F 273 




MERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER, 1805-1808. 



(From the Report of the Historical Manuscripts Commission of the American 
Historical Association for 1896, pages 842-929.) 



WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 
1897. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER, 1805-1808. 

Edward Hooker, tlie writer of this diary, was boru at Farm- 
ingtou, Conn., April 27, 1785.' He was the youngest child of 
Col. Noadiali Hooker, a Ivevolutionary officer, and a direct 
descendant in the fifth generation from the Rev. Thomas 
Hooker, the first minister of tlie First Church at Hartford, 
celebrated for his share in the founding of the colony of Con- 
necticut. Edward Hooker was descended from Thomas Hook- 
er's son, the liev. Sanuiel Hooker, who was settled over the 
Congregational Church in Farmington in 1G60, and died there 
in 1697, after a pastorate of thirty-seven years. Our diarist 
was graduated at Yale College in 1805, and immediately went 
to Columbia, S. C, where his elder brother, John Hooker, was 
engaged in the successful i)ractice of law. It was Edward 
Hooker's intention to study law with his brother and to settle 
in the South. After a period of teaching in the academy at 
Cambridge, S. C, he was invited to a tutorship in the South 
Carolina College at Columbia, which he accepted, pursuing at 
the same time his legal studies with his brother. After about 
two years he accepted an invitation to a tutorship in Yale 
College, in which he spent about three years. In the spring 
of 1812 he was married to Elizabeth Daggett, a daughter of 
Henry Daggett, a merchant and prominent citizen of New 
Haven. He then, yielding to the urgent request of his par- 
ents, gave up the profession of the law, and settled down in 
Farmington to take care of them, and to manage their estate. 
The rest of his life was spent in the management of this farm. 
For a few years he prepared boys for college. He died May 
15, 1846. He was for many years a deacon in the Congrega- 
tional Church at Farmington, and was marked by public spirit 
and philanthropy. He left three children — one daughter, 
Eliza, who became the wife of the Hon. Francis Gillette of 
Hartford, ITuited States Senator from Connecticut; and two 
sons, John Hooker, a lawyer at Hartford, who married Isa- 
bella, the daughter of Eev. Lyman Beecher; and Commander 



' J'or the following facts relating to his life the editor is indebted to his son, John 
Hooker, esii., of Hartford, Conn. 

842 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 843 

Edward Hooker, United States ISTavy, retired, now living- in 
Brooklyn, K. Y. 

For many years it was Mr. Hooker's habit to keep a detailed 
journal or diary. The series originally consisted of twenty- 
eight paper-covered books, about 8.i by 7 inches, each consist- 
ing of about forty-eight pages. These were written, a})pareutly 
daily, in a line hand. Nos. 1, 2, and 3 were coi)ied into two 
thicker and more substantial volumes, with some amplification 
of phrases, but, it would seem, with little if any other change. 
The series now, therefore, contains no No. 3. It begins with 
Commencement Bay, September 11, 1805, and with the writer's 
graduation in a class which included Thomas H. Gallaudet, the 
founder of deaf-mute instruction in America; Heman Hum- 
phrey, afterwards president of Amherst College ; and (lardiner 
Spring. jSTot long after, October 19, the young graduate set 
sail for Charleston, S. C, and proceeded thence to Columbia. 
The record of his experiences in the South, chiefly in South 
Carolina, during a j)eriod of three years, is to be found in ISTos. 
1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of this Journal, and the following 
extracts are made from these volumes. For permission to copy 
and to use these extracts, the Commission is indebted to the 
kindness of John Hooker, esq., of Hartford, Conn., the son of 
the diarist. 

As only a body of extracts from this voluminous diary could 
be presented, the editor has felt obliged, with much regret, to 
omit almost entirely the highly interesting portions which 
exhibit, in minute detail and apparently with much fidelity, the 
social life of South Carolina in these years. It seemed to him 
that, while every good picture of Southern life and manners 
is of value to historical students, there is a greater abundance 
of such portraiture than of j)rinted documents illustrating the 
political history of South Carolina during the period in (|ues- 
tion. These three years are a part of a period of transition, 
during which the State was developing from the Federalist 
South Carolina of 1788 into the better known South Carolina 
of 1832. The process is one of extraordinary interest, and 
might well receive far more attention than has hitherto been 
bestowed upon it. 

Not too much illumination of South Carolina histoiy must 
be expected from the journal of a boy of 20 or 23. Not only 
was Hooker youthful, but he was i)rone to look at things and 
men from the special point of view of the old-fashioned college 



844 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

tutor, prone to overestimate the importance of tlie mimitia' 
of pronunciation, excessively interested in rhetoric and gesture. 
He had some measure, too, of Xew England censoriousness. 
Yet on the whole he is a candid and an intelligent observer. 
His mind was more mature than is usual at his age. He was 
of a social and affectionate nature, which inclined him before 
long to take a genial view of characters and customs which 
at first were strange to his grave and somewhat formal mind. 
But that which perhaj^s will most recommend his narrative as 
interesting to the modern reader is the opportunity which his 
residence at Columbia gave him to observe the external course 
of South Carolina politics and legislation at the capital of the 
State. It is not known to the editor tlmt just such a picture 
of men and affairs at the State-house during those three years 
is elsewhere accessible. Especial attention should be called 
to the record of debates on the slave trade. 

The diarist's description of Charleston and Beaufort and 
their society has been omitted, though with much regret, from 
a conviction that other descriptions of these things are, after 
all, obtainable. In the main, the extracts relate to days passed 
at Columbia. The most extensive exceptions to this statement 
occur in the case of a short tour in the mountainous parts of 
South Carolina and in the case of that portion of the final 
homeward journey in which Mr. Hooker writes of Raleigh, 
Kichmond, Mount Vernon, and Washington. 

J. Franklin Jameson. 



EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY. 

[Mr. Hooker rode up Iroiii Charleston to Colniiibia with Col. Wade 
Hampton.] 

November ith,\lSO:'j], * * * Crossing,' I entered the dis- 
trict of Kichlaud of which the shire town, (and probably tlie 
only town in it) is Columbia.^ Caesar •' pointed out to me the 
State House which was just visible through the trees, about 
two miles forward. I was pleased Avith the hope of soon finish- 
ing my j(mrney ; but yet did not feel in very high spirits. A 
thousand anxious thoughts crowded into my mind. I could 

I The Congaree River. 

■^ Founded as a new capital in 1790. Columbia had now about 500 white inhabitants. 

3 Servant of Colonel Hampton, with whom the .journey from Charleston had been made. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 845 

not avoid reflecting' on my past situation, views and schemes, 
and the change which might be made in the future prosi)ects 
and events of my life, by the simple determination to come 
into this region, — a change perhaps for the better, — perhaps 
for the worse. However I had not time to indulge very long- 
in my reverie, before I found the woods breaking away on both 
sides, and an entirely new scene opening upon my view. A 
neat, handsome little town, on an elevated tract of ground, 
commanding on the west and south a view of 8 or 10 miles, and 
shrouded on the east and north by immense forests of pine. 
On coming up the hills of sand from Granby, I found myself 
at the head of Eichardson Street, which is the principal one 
in the town, running north and south. To me however, it 
appeared to run east and west, and I was totally unable to 
realize that I was coming in on the south, and not on the east. 
1 drove to Mr. Chapman's boarding house (opposite the State 
house) where brother J.' on his departure for the circuit, had 
made arrangements for my accommodation; * * * 

* * * About sunset the Governor of the State,'^ with his 
suite arrived in town from the Upper Country. They are 
dressed iu military uniform, and make a gay appearance. Be 
is out on a military tour; being required by the laws, to be 
l)resent, with the Adjutant (Tcneral, at all the regimental 
reviews. The Adjutant General has about 1200 dollars, and 
each of the Brigade Insi)ectors about 220 dollars a year for 
their services. * * * 

[Nov. 5.] * * * Col. Hampton' called on me just before 
dinner, and invited me to come down some time before long, 
and make him a visit at his seat, a few miles below Columbia. 
Mr. Hammond^ also called on me, and brought with him Mr. 
Hanford another of the Tutors of College. 

Col. Hampton, I find, is considered by every body about here 
a very singular man; — one of a million. The leading traits of 
his character are boldness and originality of scheme, remark- 
able foresight in the judicious selection of means for the 
accomplishment of this scheme, and undaunted perseverance 



' John Hooker, Tale College 1796, elder brother of Edward, now a lawyer in Columbia. 
See O'Neall, Bench and Bar of South Carolina, li, 247, 248. 

■■' Paul Hamilton, governor of South Carolina 1804-1806, Secretary of the Xavy 1809-1813. 

3 Col. Wade Hampton (1754-1835), M. C. 1705-1797, 1803-1805, afterwards noted as a gen- 
eral in the war of 1812; grandfather of the Gen. Wade Hampton of the civil war. 

'' Presumably Elisha Hammond (Dartmouth, 1802). who for abrief period was professor 
of laiigiiagos iu the college, and who was the father of Governor and Senator James H. 
Hammond. 



846 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

ill the ai)pliciition of these lueaiis. In his conversations with 
me, during- our journey, he had a great deal to say about energy 
of cliaracter, and enterprize: and well he might: for he him- 
self furnishes a striking lesson of what may be effected by 
such a spirit; — having by means of it, risen to an eminence in 
property, station and information that astonishes every one 
who knows the small beginnings with which he started on the 
career of active life. He was born in Virginia: His father's 
family was large and without much property: so that thi^ 
Colonel with his brothers, was brought up to labor in the iield; 
and was almost entirely without the advantages of even a com- 
mon school education. By the time he was thirty years old^ 
or before, he commanded an intrepid regiment of cavalry, that 
distinguished itself at the battle of Eutaw Sjirings,^ and per- 
formed various other important services during the revolution. 
Some time after the war, he was for several years high sheriff 
of the large District of Camden, including several counties. 
Since then he has been two or three times elected a member of 
Congress. By various ways, some honest, and some, it is said, 
dishonest he has acquired an immense estate in laud and 
negroes, which, if report be true, yields him an annual income 
of more than Fifty thousand dollars. He seems to have availed 
himself of every opportunity to acquire knowledge: and is 
able to converse with ease and spirit, on most subjects that 
are agitated in most companies. His acquaintance with good 
authors is very considerable; but he seems to have mostly 
read those who are characterized by justness of thought, rather 
than by beauty of language. His language is more than ordi- 
narily pure, forcible, clear and concise, — and lie is said to have 
acquired it, much more by strict attention to the conversation 
and writings of well educated men, than to the study of gram- 
matical and rhetorical rules. In his conversation, he some- 
times in the midst of a sentence, hesitates for a word; but to 
one who is acquainted with him, this produces no unpleasant 
sensation ; a perfect confidence being felt, that the word, when- 
ever it does come, will compensate, by its peculiar aptness, for 
all the delay which it has occasioned. For the tinsel of lan- 
guage he entertains a sovereign contempt; — and he has no 
mercy upon those who speak in a harmonious, studied style 
without good sense: Indeed he is disposed, he says, to consider 
style as of very inferior, or no importance. He calls Mr. Elliott 



September 8, 1781. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 847 

of Yermout' a speaker of the above description, and thinks 
him, literally, au impertinent fool. Dr. Eiistis- he thinks a 
very sensible and handsome speaker. Mr. E. Griswold,^ he 
speaks highly of, and considers him one of the first rate 
speakers. 

As a man, Col. Hampton has some qualities that interest us 
but I should think him deficient in that tender and amiable 
sensibility, which, more than anything else, makes us love our 
fellow creatures. People relate some things about his deal- 
ings with his brothers, which though not uncommon, in the 
case of worldly men, who are without any ties of consanguinity 
or affection, are, in the case of brothers, to say the least, very 
unkind. However, some of his brothers' children have expe- 
rienced from him considerable liberality. In his politics, he 
is, I hardly know what. He appears to set very little value on 
names, and to discover very little of that prejudiced feeling, 
which, now a days, is so apt to accompany the mention of any 
particular denomination of parties. He is ca.lled a republican : 
yet he certainly has many notions and sentiments which 
are more characteristic of federalism. And he does not hesi- 
tate to condemn, openly, and unequivocally some measures of 
the republican party. I have heard related an anecdote, which 
strikingly exhibits his wish to be candid, and his indignation 
at the prevailing practice of blending every interest in society 
with party politics, and forcing everything to bend to what is 
called "republicanism" or "federalism" according as these or 
those political opinions happen to predominate in any section 
of the country. The Board of Trustees to the State College 
recently established in this town,'* had occasion last year to 
make an appointment to the Presidency of the institution- 
The two candidates most talked of were President Maxcy of 
Ehode Island'' and the Eev. Dr. M'Caila of the low country.*^ 
Several of the Trustees were violent partizans: and among 

" James Elliott (1770-1839), a Eederalist Member of Congress from Vermont 180;!-1809. 

^ Dr. William Eustis (175:!-1825), Member of Congress 1801-1805, 1820-1823, Secretary of 
War 1807-1813, governor of Massachusetts 1823-1825. 

3 Roger Griswold of Connecticut (1762-1812), Member of Congress 1795-1805, governor 
of Connecticut 1811-1812. 

-» The College of South Carolina, chartered December 19, 1801, in which Mr. Hooker was 
subsequently a tutor. 

6 Jonathan Maxcy (1768-1820), acting president of Ehode Island College (now Brown 
■University) 1792-1797, president 1797-1802, president of Union College 1802-1804, of the 
South Carolina College 1804-1820. Life by Konieo Elton. 

6 Dr. Daniel McCalla (1748-1809) wlio from 1788 until his death was pastor of the Cou. 
gregational Church at Wappetaw, S. C. Life by Hollingshead. 



848 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

the rest Chancellor James : ^ who, just before the election came 
on, met Col. Hampton in the street, and began the following 
conversation. — " Well Colonel, have you made up your mind 
yet? Col. H. I have thought over the subject considerably; 
but I am still open to conviction. Chancellor. Well sir, I'll tell 
you what 'tis. We must have a republican at the head of our 
College, or all is lost: We would a great deal better have done 
nothing about it. Colonel. Indeed, this is presenting the sub- 
ject in a new point of view. I had not myself considered it in 
this light before. But are you sure that your man is one of 
this description? Chancellor. Dr. M'Calla is, I am sure, a man 
that can be depended on — a man of known — of tried republic- 
anism. He isn't one of your still sort; — afraid to speak his 
sentiments; but he comes out boldly and takes a decided part 
on our side of politics. I am sure you'll think it better to take 
him than to send away to New England for a man whom we 
don't know. Colonel. But are you sure that Dr. M'Calla is a 
republican — Are you sure that he can be depended on ? Chan ■ 
cellor. Yes. I have it from the best authority, that he is a 
staunch Jeffersonian republican. Colonel. Then, sir, depend 
upon it, he does not have my vote. I want none of your staunch 
republicans at the head of our college: — nor your staunch Fed- 
eralists neither. Our object is of a totally different nature. I 
know of no necessary connection between party politics and lit- 
erature ; and till a candidate i)resents some better recommenda- 
tion for the office than staunch republicanism I shall employ my 
influence to keep him out of it." On the subject of the tendency 
of our political institutions. Col. Hampton told me he was in- 
clined to think, the fears of leading characters in the northern 
States, such as Gov. Strong, Gov. Treadwell, Mr. Tracy, Dr. 
Dwight- and the clergy in general, that the turbulent spirit of 
the people might lead to licentiousness, were not without foun- 
dations—that he himself had also thought it might affect and 
weaken the government; — but then he believed there was more 
of the turbulent, licentious, fractious spirit in the common peo- 
ple of the northern States than of the southern. He mentioned 
his tour to the north a few years since, and the incivilities he 



' William D. James, a cliancellor of the Court of Equity from 1802 to 1824, and a judge 
of tlie Court of Appeals from 1824 to 1828. O'Neall, Bench and Bar of South Carolina, i, 
236-240. 

^Caleb Strong, at this time governor of Massachusetts: John Treadwell, at tliis time 
lieutenant-governor, afterwards governor of Connecticut; Triah Tracy, Senator from 
Connecticut; Timothy Dwight, president of Yale College from 1795 to 1817. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 849 

met with from the low bred i)eople. He thought there was more 
civility to strangers, to geutlenieu riding in their carriages, 
more submission to the laws, and respect of authority in the 
south. — In his religious opinions, the Colonel is thought to be 
rather loose : Indeed he has sometimes, rather in i)leasantry, 
when asked about his creed, called himself " a loose christian.^^ — 
Our conversation, while on the road last Sunday morning, 
turning on religion, the Colonel told me he did not believe there 
was a tenth part of the number of deists in this State that 
there is iu Connecticut : for that rigidness and illiberality on the 
subject which prevails there disgusts many with the Christian 
system. As for himself, he said he only wished to come in, like 
the rest, for his share, in the general dispensation of God's 
blessings, such as an ordinary share of health, the use of the 
earth, the seasons &c. but he should never ask any particular 
blessings and favors; for he did not suppose that would make 
any difference about obtaining them: — if it would, says he, 
the system of Gods dealing with meu would be a system ot 
favoritism. — This ^^poinoicing-'' says he, may be of some use to 
the individual: it may preserve in him a humble spirit that 
will help to keep his passions subdued; and thus be of real 
service: but it can have no other effect. He believed that we 
are just what our Creator designed us to be, and not that man 
had fallen from his original state of goodness, and thus disap- 
pointed the Deity and thwarted his designs. Of course, what 
Moses says about man's fall and the doctrine of original sin, he 
believed to be a vile fabrication. He should not puzzle him- 
self about the intricacies of theology, for he was fixed on cer- 
tain principles, and he trusted himself to his maker for the 
result of the matter. He believed in a future state of rewards 
and punishments. 

Possibly, however, the Colonel was not sincere in all this, 
for finding that I very much disagreed with him on the sub- 
ject, he afterwards told one of the officers of the college that I 
belonged to the '■'■true schooV^ for he had sounded me, on the 
road, as we were travelling together. 

As to his moral conduct, it appears to be, and it is said to be 
outwardly correct, so f?^ as it respects the prevailing vices of 
the country. He does not get drunk; — he despises gambling 
as a mean and pernicious employment; — he speaks witli much 
abhorrence of the prevailing lasciviousness of the young. He 
is however accused of great frauds in land speculation, and of 
H. Doc. 353 54 



850 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

violating- a law of the State which existed a few years ago, by 
privately bringing in negro slaves from North-Carolina. 

One of the principal maxims of Col. Hamilton's life and which 
he strongly recommended to me has been to Consider everijtJdng 
certain ivhich is vossihle. He thinks it an all-important maxim 
for a young man to adopt, when setting out in the world, and 
one, which, if steadily adhered to, will make Lhe common dis- 
couragements of life dwindle into insignificance, and enable 
him to do wonders in his day. — He despises noticing little 
complaints of body or trifles of any kind, — and believes that 
diseases are often produced merely by giving way to small 
indispositions. When diseases of a really serious nature are 
about to attack one, they are preceded by certain symptoms; 
these symptoms may be easily known, and should be early 
attended to. 

On our journey we had considerable conversation about the 
different systems of settlement that prevail in the Northern 
and Soutliern States. The Colonel is very fond of retired 
life— that is, a retired life in the strictest sense of the word. 
He wishes to be two or three miles at least from any neigh- 
bors. He utterly disapproves of the custom of farmers in 
Connecticut who for the sake of society, cluster together into 
villages and hamlets, instead of setting their habitations in the 
midst of their lauds, where they can manage them to the great- 
est advantage. He thinks the tendency of these village set- 
tlements is to make people more contracted, less hospitable 
and less friendly. If he has a friend, he says he don't want 
him to be a near neighbor: he should be sure to lose his friend- 
ship; for there would be some difficulty about fences, dam- 
ages, things borrowed, or something to disturb harmony. 

Colonel H\s personal appearance is not very striking. Stat- 
ure not over middling. Dresses in good clothes, but has noth- 
ing showy about him. A great enemy to finery, and treats it 
with marked contempt. There is nothing connnanding or 
peculiarly dignified in his appearance; though he has an easy 
and becoming dignity of manners. He appears to much the 
best advantage when mounted; being an unusually expert 
horseman. When standing, and especially if engaged in con- 
versation, he is very apt to rest on one leg, and to throw out the 
other so far as to give him a stooping posture; while at the 
same time his arms are placed aldmho, and his eyes cast on 
the ground. 



DIAKY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 851 

November 6th. (Wednesday) This forenoon, I called on ]\lr. 
Hanford, and with him took a view of tlie college buildings 
wliicli are erecting, on a pleasant rise of ground about ^ of a 
mile southeast of the State House. The place though so near 
the center of the town is however very recluse; there being no 
houses around, and even the lands being uncleared and covered 
with lofty pines, and wihl shrubs. The plan is to have two 
buildings of perhaps IGO feet in length each, facing each other 
at the distance of IGO feet apart. At right angles to these, 
and facing the area inclosed between them, it is proposed to 
place the President's house; and afterwards, as occasion may 
require, other buildings, such as the dining hall and professors 
houses are expected to be built fronting each other, and rang- 
ing in a line with the hrst mentioned long buildings. The 
buildings A and B are erected, and A is finished except the 

central part, which is however r •, 

advanced so far as to be capable 
of use. The central parts are de- 
signed for the Chapel, Library, 
Philosophical Chamber, Eecita- 
tiou Eooms, &c. — the wings are 
designed for scholars' mansion 
rooms — C is the site of the Presi- 
dent's house, D the place for a din- r--, r— ^ 
ing hall, E for a Professor's house '</} \ \e \ 
perhaps. That part of tlie work I- — i !-..j' 
which is done is in a handsome, though not all in a durable stile. 
The chapel occupies the two lower stories of the central build- 
ing on the right, and is in a beautiful style of workmanship both 
within and without. Tlie Library room above is supported by 
four stately Tuscan columns, which rise from the area of the 
chapel with considerable majesty, and give to the room an 
appearance of grandeur. The galleries are supported by a 
row of smaller pillars. The- room is nearly or quite square. 
The j)ulpit is surrounded by a semi-octagonal stage, on the 
right and left sides of which are steps leading to the officers' 
seats and thence are other steps to the pulpit. The upper 
tiers of windows are semi-circular at top, as in Episcopal 
churches and have some neat ornamental work about them. 
The stage, pulpit, staircases, bannisters, seats, &c. are all 
painted white, and make, now, a very chaste and pretty appear- 
ance; but 1 question if they will long remain so. There are 



852 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

but a few seats, and these are so arranged near tlie outside of 
the room, as to leave a large area in the centre, on the sides 
and in front of the stage. The wings are three stories high, 
and are divided into 12 mansion rooms each, and 24 bedrooms. 
The bedrooms are directly back of the large rooms; and the 
arrangement is such as to be very convenient for ventilation — 
a circumstance very necessary to be attended to in this warm 
climate. 

The munificence of the legislature towards this institution 
has been very honorable. They first granted 50,000 dollars 
out of the public treasury for the two long buildings. They 
have granted several thousands for books and instruments, 
and they are to appropriate a considerable sum annually for 
its constant support.^ The College was opened for the recep- 
tion of students some months ago. The number, 1 believe, is 
about 30. Tliey board together with the tutors at a private 
house. * * * 

Safurdaij Nov. 9th. * * * p. M. Walked up to the Col- 
lege about 4 o'clock, and visited the Library with Mr. Ham- 
mond. The room is very spacious, airy and handsome. About 
5000 volumes have been purchased but not more than 3000 have 
yet arrived. Many of these have an elegant appearance; but 
it is thought the selection was not made very judiciously. It 
was made by a Committee of gentlemen in Charleston; of whom 
Judge Johnson 2 of the Federal Court was a principal one. 
There seems to be an undue proportion of modern works — 
many of them of the ephemeral class. There are large piles 
of periodical works, such as the Gentleman's Magazine, Euro- 
pean Magazine, Annual Ivegister, and others of no-more solid 
worth than these. Some handsome editions of the Greek and 
Latin Classics and translations — A few books written in the 
Oriental languages. * * * 

Wov. 10th. {Sundm/). * * * There are no meetings regu- 
larly held here on the Sabbath except by the Methodists. They 
are peculiarly engaged on the subject of religion, and, I find, 
give considerable disjileasure to some of the Columbians by 
their noisy zeal. At evening, Mr. Egan ^ and Dr. Brazier called 



' Keports bouncl with the Acts of 1807 show au auuual appio]iriatioi) of $0,000 by the 
legislature, besides expenditures of $8,000 o:i Ihe president's house and $4,400 for other pur- 
poses. In 1805-1806, $11,390 were paid ont for the eollej;e. 

'■'William Johnson, associate justice of tlie Supreme Court of tlic L'nited States 1804- 
1834. 

3 Thomas Henry Kgau, law partner of John lioolicr. See ONeall, Bench and Bar of 
South Carolina, ll, 231, 232. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. ^63 

on me; and with Miss Mary- Ann Cbapuian ' we attended one 
of tlieir meetings. Tlie order of the exercises did not differ 
much from that of Congregational meetings. The singing- 
was much better than I expected it wouhl be. The lines were 
read by the preacher and sung by the audience alternately. 
Most and perhaps all the singers sung the same x:)art. If 
there was any bass, it was so small as to be overwhelmed by 
the burst of melodious sounds from the men, and women, in the 
gallery and below, promiscuously engaged in the same x)art. 
This was something new to me. It struck my fancy very much, 
and made a most agreeable impression. From the account 
which has been given me of Methodist meetings, I had expected 
to witness more indecorum, and irregularity. Some groans 
were made; though I did not think they were very natural 
ones. The preaching did not entirely please me. A great x^art 
of the sermon was certainly bordering on extravagance. I 
was glad to see the preacher warm, as every preacher should 
be : but I was sorry to see his warmth not in the least tempered 
by judgment. Whether repeating the text, quoting scripture, 
stating the heads of his discourse reasoning, or addressing the 
X)assions, it was all one uninterrupted current of affected pathos 
and monotonous roar. Even between the different heads of 
discourse, he had no more stop or intermission of voice than 
between connected sentences — nor between different sentences 
had he hardly any thing more than common i^auses. There 
was a closing prayer by another i^reacher (a Mr. Moore) which 
was excellent and well delivered. The audience appeared well 
dressed and respectable. I saw nothing like levity exhibited 
by any body present. The house was filled with people. All 
those who were in the gallery were blacks. The inhabitants 
speak highly of the Eev. Mr. Dunlap, an ordained Presbyterian 
minister of this place who died summer before last. He was 
an able and good man ; — and was educated at Winnsborougli 
Academy or College (as it is called) a little seminary about .'50 
miles north. He depended on no contract, but voluntary con- 
tribution for his support, which for the first two or three years 
was liberal, but gradually died away; so that he at length left 
preaching and taught an academy. He was also appointed 
Clerk of the Senate, and from the emoluments of that ofiice 
derived a good subsistence. 

Monday Nor. 11th. The township of Columbia is not large; 
being only two miles square. This territory is laid out into 

3 Aftervvarils married to John Hooker. 



854 



AMEKICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 



lots and streets; but not more than one third of the streets are 
yet opened; and of those which are ojiened, several have not 
more than two or three buildings nj^on them. The State 
House is placed on an eminence directly in the center of the 
township, though very far from the center of the buildings. 
The principal street is Kichardson Street which runs ou the 
east side of the State House: although State Street which 
runs on the west side was designed, by the commissioners who 
planned the town, for the principal one. State Street is the 
central one : and the State House though made with two fronts 
was however so constructed as to present its handsomest front 
to the west. Yet public choice has 
so far disregarded the original plan 
that State Street is, even to this 
time, to a considerable extent, over- 
run with bushes. That j^art of the 
town which is not put into open 
streets is, for the most part, a wilder- 
ness of pines. Xow and then is seen 
a cultivated spot of a few acres 
which forms an exception. The 
State House is very large on the 
ground, but yet so low as to be en- 
tirely void of anything like just pro- 
portion. It has only two stories; 
and one of these is partly below the 
natural surface of the ground, and is 
of brick plaistered over. The lower 
stovy is appropriated to the Treas- 
urer's, Secretary's, and Surveyor 
General's offices. There are several 
other rooms, which, as far as I can learn, are used for little 
else than lodging rooms for the goats that run loose about the 
streets, and which, as the doors are never shut, have at all 
times free access. The court house is a much handsomer 
building — of brick, two stories high. There is only one church 
in the town. The people think it " a very neat.preUy ynihUmf ; 
but I am certain there is not a country parish in Connecticut, 
but would disdain not to build a better one, in case they were 
about to build at all. It is not more than one third as large as 
Farmington Church ; has no steeple ; and the inside is in a very 
coarse and unfinished state. It is not plaistered — and the 
seats are meaely movable benches placed promiscuously on the 




Granby. 



State House. 
B Court House. 
\M College. 
X Methodist Church. 
O Academy. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 855 

floor. The pulpit aud altar are finished and present a neat 
enough appearance. The same is true of the outside. — The 
houses generally are built of wood and many of them, though 
small, are pretty. These peculiarities distinguish them from 
Connecticut houses: They are generally narrower — having for 
the convenience of ventilation, only one tier of rooms. They are 
without cellars; being set up on blocks or stones considerably 
above the ground, and left o])en below the floors: — it being an 
opinion somewhat prevalent that cellars are unhealthy. They 
are unconnected with the kitchens. The chimneys are built 
and carried up, all the way, on the outside of the house. — The 
execution of all the work that I have noticed seems to me very 
dilferent from that of Connecticut. Everything has a shack- 
ling, flimsy look — Joints are parting — Boards are coming ofl' — 
Plaistering is full of cracks and breaks. 

The number of houses and stores in the town I should judge 
to be over an hundred. — The inhabitants have no special priv- 
ileges at present except a power of making regulations con- 
cerning the streets public wells and market, through the 
agency of a committee who are stiled "Commissioners of the 
Streets."^ They are however expecting ere long to get from 
the legislature a charter of incorporation, which shall confer 
upon them the same powers with Camden and other little 
cities or boroughs. 

Eichardson Street and some others are lined, in part, with a 
beautiful tree called the Pride of India. In some few places 
a native pine is left standing, though they are every day dimin- 
ishing in number. The inhabitants do not like them at all; 
and will not for a moment admit the idea that so cheap a tree 
as the pine which overruns their whole state can possibly con- 
tribute to the embellishment of a town. Hence they have 
commenced against them a "war of extermination". Around 
the State House are left standing some lofty forest oaks which 
afford a grateful shade, and give the scenery a rural and a 
charming cast. 

The citizens as far as I can learn have a great variety of 
character. This is naturally to be expected when it is remem- 
bered that they are of such various origin. A few only are 
native Carolinians: some are from Virginia; vsome from New 
England — Some from England, Scotland and Ireland; some 
from France: some from various countries of the German 
Empire. 

' This was by au act ol' 17»8. Columbia was incorporated by act of December 19, 1805. 



856 AMEKICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

The fashions of dress, differ in some trifling particnlars only 
from the fashions now prevailing in Connecticut. Suwarrow 
boots are much less worn, both here and in Charleston. Ruffles 
are more in use both at the bosom and the hands. The dress 
throughout is in general not so loose as in Conn. — As to the 
ladies' fashions, I don't know what they were when I left 
Conn., and I have never observed what they are here, any 
further than to notice with satisfaction, that their dresses are 
not so Immodestly cut and put on, as those of the Northern 
fashionables. 

The vehicles used here are peculiar in their construction. 
They are called chairs — designed for one horse — most of them 
without any spring except what is in the elasticity of the 
Shafts (as the thills are here universally called). Some have 
what are called cradle springs, placed, one under each shaft. 
They are all made without tops, and finished in a very plain 
manner. They cost I believe about one hundred dollars. The 
harnesses are made in a corresponding style. I don't believe 
there is a top chaise, or a silver plated harness in the whole 
town. 

There is very little verdure in the town; the soil being too 
dry and sandy to produce grass. Consequently the streets 
are very deficient in that life and freshness of appearance 
which usually prevails in the towns of New England. 

The public burying ground is in a pleasant and retired spot, 
east of the town — surrounded on three sides by copses of 
native piues which serve to render it suitably solemn. It has 
however a neglected appearance, not being enclosed by a 
fence, except in particular spots that have palings around the 
graves of particular families. These palings are almost the 
only monuments. A very few graves have wooden ones carved 
and painted in resemblance of stone, with inscriptions; and 
one or two have stones. I suppose the scarcity either of free- 
stone or marble is the reason of their using wood ; for no part 
of the State that I have yet seen gives the smallest indication 
of the existence of such substances. Indeed regular stones of 
any quality are extremely scarce here; so that even the foun- 
dations of houses and the walls of wells, that have any walls 
at all, are made of brick. * * * 

Keturned and went with Mr. Chapman into the State House. 
The Senate and Representative chamber though not magnifi- 
cent, are finished in a better style than the exterior of the 
edifice would authorize one to expect. They are furnished 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 857 

with handsome carpets, tables and chairs — with elegant maps 
of the U. S. and of each State in the Union— also of Europe 
and Asia — with a plan of Charleston and another of Columbia. 
The latter is executed with a pen in a very neat manner by a 
young Mr. Waring of this town who jDresented one to each 
house. The legislature in return made him a compliment of au 
hundred dollars. 

There is considerable elegance, bordering on magnificence 
about the seats of the President of the Senate and Speaker of 
the House. The curtains for the windows, before which the 
chairs are placed on an elevated and commanding stand, are 
quite rich and beautiful to the eye. Those belonging to the 
seat of the former are of beautiful damask; were sent for to 
England and cost five hundred dollars. — In the Senate Cham- 
ber is a Legislative Library for the use of the members of both 
houses. It appears to have on the shelves, at present, about 
one hundred and fifty volumes. They consist to a consider- 
able extent of Journals of the English Parliament, Journals of 
the U. S. Congress, and of some of the State legislatures and 
conventions, Acts of Congress, Statutes of the Several States, 
and political treatises. There is some history and some enter- 
taining miscellany. Mr. C. tells me there is a considerable 
number of the books lost. Some being scattered about in town 
where the members have left them, and some being carried 
out of town. He says the legislature is very careless of the 
Library, doing very little more than to vote a supply of money 
occasionally to purchase books, which when purchased are 
often taken out without being charged, and retained for months 
and years without being demauded. 

Observing, among the papers that lay scattered about the 
floor, several letters, I had the curiosity to pick up one. It 
proved to be a solicitation from a person in the low country to 
one of the members to lend him his vote and influence in pro- 
curing the Sheriftalty of one of the districts. It appeared to 
me so much of a curiosity as to be worth transcribing. Except 
the date, signature and address it was in print, and in the 
following form: 
James Riclibourgh Esqr. 

Colleton District Nov. loth. 1804 
Dr Sir 

inteiKling to offer myself a candidate for the office of Sheriif for Colleton 
District at the next ses'sioii of the Legislature, I take the liberty of solicit- 
ing the favor of your vote and influence to promote my election to the 
said office. 



858 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

I refer yon and yonr friends to Captain Hamilton, 'the Comptroller- gen- 
eral, for any information yon may think proper to be acquainted with 
respecting me; also to Colonel Piuckney, member of the Legislature from 
this District. 

I am, sir, respectfully 

Your most obedient servant 

Wm Oswald. 
James Richbourgh Esqr. 

Expressing- my surprise that siicli a mode of obtaining pro- 
motion should be resorted to, I was informed that offices are 
rarely bestowed by the Legislature without solicitation; for 
the State being so large, and the people so scattered, it cau- 
i:ot otherwise be known, who are candidates — and without this 
knowledge it would be ,a chance if offices should be given to 
those who would accept of them. 

Tuesday Nov. 12th. * * * Had some conversation with 
Mr. Chapman on the comparative merit of the poor laws in 
Connecticut and this State. He says that many of the regu- 
lations and usages existing on this subject in New England 
are despised by the Carolinians, who have a high sense of lib- 
erty. They think such regulations an abridgment of natural 
liberty, and wonder how a man can "get along" to live there 
with so many restrictions. The practice of warning a poor, 
idle man out of town to prevent expense is considered an 
unrighteous meddling with another's concerns. In S. Carolina, 
as the poor are supported by the State altogether, no one town 
or county feels interested in sending them off, and an idle, 
worthless fellow is suffered to loiter about without having any 
questions asked, till, when a good opportunity presents, he 
perhaps steals a horse and rides off. The New England prac- 
tice of placing an overseer over a man who squanders and 
dissipates his pro])erty, is condemned by the people here, who 
seem to think that as every man has a right to do what he 
pleases with his own, soiihe public have no right to interfere 
in his affairs. 

Friday Nov. 15. Took a ride with brother in the forenoon 
down to the Granby ferry, and thence along by the side of the 
Congaree, two or three miles further. On an elevated second 
bank of the river, eight or ten rods from the water, on a pleas- 
ant spot, amid a grove of tall Lombardy poplars stands the 
house of Charles Pinckney, Esq. our minister at the Court of 



'Paul Hamilton (1762-181C), comptroller 1799-1804, governor 1804-1806, Secretary of tlie 
Navy 1809-1813. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 859 

Madrid.' It is two large stories liigh, square, with a small 
portico in front, not very elegant, and in appearance ratlier 
ancient and neglected. An office of brick, with a cupola 
stands a few yards from the left end, among the trees. The 
appearance is solemn and gloomy — the mansion being shut up, 
and not a person to be seen, any where near. His plantation 
Avhich lies on the river, above and below the house, is very 
valuable, but the estate has not been perfectly well managed 
during Mr. P's absence, and it is now, as it was indeed before 
his departure, very much embarrassed with debt. A heavy 
judgment was recovered against him not long since, and on 
the day of my arrival in Columbia, a number of his slaves 
were sold by the Sheriff to satisfy the execution.— Passing 
through Mr. P's, we rode about half a mile into Col. Hampton's 
plantation, which adjoins it below. Keturned another way, 
and visited a cotton gin, about which a number of negroes 
were at work, very busily in cleaning the cotton from its seeds. 
I had no conception till now of the immense benefit produced 
to the Southern States by the invention of the ingenious Mr. 
Whitney of New Haven. The seeds adhere to the staple (as 
tlie woolly part or thread of the cotton is called) with a great 
deal of tenacity, and used formerly to be picked out by hand. 
Now, the gins of Mr. W. are in universal use. They are put in 
operation by a horse or by water. A first rate one, put in 
motion by two horses, and well attended by a man and two 
boys, will, it is said, clean as much in a day, as two thousand 
negroes can do, in the old way. If one quarter of this is true, 
the saving of labor must be prodigious. 

Saturday Nov. 16th. * * * Enquiring the reason why 
European goods are sold so much higher in this state than 
at the Northward, I was informed that the merchants of Caro- 
lina are less punctual, and more frequently bankrupts — that 
the ijlanters have money only once a year, viz. after selling 
their crops, — and of course the merchants trust a great 
deal; * * * 

Sun. Nov. 17th. P>rother J. with a number of other lawyers 
set out this morning for Winnsborough to attend the court 
which sits there to-morrow. They all started together in chairs ; 
and, with their servants on horseback, behind, formed quite a 



1 Charles Pinckney (1758-1824) member of the Convention of 1787, governor of South 
Carolina 1789-1792, 1796-1798, 1806-1808, Senator 1797-1801, was envoy to Spain from 1802 
to October, 1805. 



860 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

X)rocession. — It did not seem easy to reconcile all this noise and 
bustle of Sunday journeying, with my ]N"ew-Eno'^ iirinciples. 
However, the Carolinians do not seem to be very scrupulous 
on this subject; and unfortunately they find too easy an excuse 
for the thing in the very laws of the land. These laws do not 
expressly authorize violations of the Sabbath ; but they fairly 
invite such violations in various ways: Particularly in the 
appointment of public occasions, which are usually on Mon- 
days. Thus the legislature begins i ts session on Monday. The 
college Commencement is assigned to Monday: and all the 
courts in the State are opened on Monday. In the assignment 
of court-time there is this further jieculiarity: For the courts 
in the country, only one week each is allowed. Hence it fre- 
(luently happens that the same judge and the same lawyers 
who are detained at one Court till Saturday night, are obliged, 
by this arrangement, to attend another court, 20, 30 or 40 miles 
distant, the next Monday Morning: and how to accomplish 
this, without (.^icroaching on the Sabbath, might puzzle even 
an ingenious lawyer. * * * 

Man. N'or. 18. The sessions of the legislature and the Court 
of Common pleas both commence this day. The town of 
course assumes a busy ap])earance. Great numbers of people 
are flocking in; both men and women. There do not appear 
to be any circumstances of unusual parade attending the meet- 
ing of the legislature: but the members get together at the 
State House very leisurely, lounge about a while, and at length 
count their numbers. If a quorum is on the ground, the 
houses form themselves and send notice to each other and to 
the governor. If there is'nt a quorum, so much the better, as 
I should judge by the conduct of a number of the members, 
who appear to take more satisfaction in figuring about in the 
streets, and in the piazzas of their boarding houses, and in 
being looked upon as public men, than in the thought of being- 
confined to the toil of public business. I am told it is not an 
uncommon thing for three or four days to elapse before the 
business of the session is begun. 

I was not a little surprised by the novelty exhibited in the 
sitting of the court, and the concomitant circumstances. I 
had never felt any interest in the sessions of the courts at 
l^ew Haven, nor looked forward to the time as to an event of 
any importance: indeed, I seldom used to know when a court 
of any grade was to be opened, until I heard the court-house 



DIARY OF EDWARt> HOOKER. 861 

bell announcing that public business of some kind or otber 
was to be attended to. With such feelings of indifference I 
had many times wondered at the interest excited among the 
people here, l)y the approach of court-time. " Well sir, the 
court draws 7«mr", one neighbor would observe to another a 
fortnight or three weeks beforehand. The reasons seem to be 
that courts are held but seldom, and continued but a short 
time; that more people are of course concerned in the pro- 
ceedings — that more jury-men are called, and more court oflti- 
cers required to attend. The company that crowds into town 
also makes business for the boarding houses and taverns, and 
thus cause a pecuniary interest to be felt by a considerable 
number of the inhabitants. 

This court is, I believe, known in law by the name of Court 
of Common Pleas. This title however, does not sufticiently 
designate its character, which would be better understood by 
calling it tbe Court of Common law, in opposition to Court of 
Equity; for it has as much the powers of the English Court of 
Kings Bench as of the Common pleas. Its jurisdiction is very 
extensive, including all criminal cases whatever, both small 
and great, and all civil cases which are beyond the jurisdic- 
tion of a justice of the peace; that is, cases of debt or assump- 
sit, in which the sum demanded does not exceed twelve dol- 
lars. It has also a power of deciding summarily, and without 
the intervention of a jury (unless one of the parties wish it) 
in cases where the demand is less than 75 dollars. In these 
summary processes as they are called, there is much less regard 
paid to legal formalities; — the parties may be examined on 
oath, and the judge has more latitude in deciding on equitable 
X)rinciples. A single judge holds this court. From his deci- 
sion an appeal lies, on points of law, to the whole bench col- 
lected, consisting of six judges. 

The courts here are attended with more ceremony than in 
Connecticut. The judge is dressed in a large, black, silk 
gown, and wears a band: and he is attended by the sheriff to 
and from the court. The lawyers also, while at the bar, are 
required by the rules of court to wear black coats and black 
gowns. The sheriff's deputy and six or eight constables are 
required to attend court. The latter are stationed in different 
parts of the house, with their long staves, to enforce good order 
and wait the commands of the judge. The business of the 
court IS often preceded by a sermon ; to defray the expence of 



862 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

wbicli, money is appropriated by law. I believe about 10 or 12 
dollars are allowed for each sermon. For some reason or other, 
it was, at this time omitted. — Most of the forenoon was taken 
up in forming juries and calling cases. I was not a little 
amused with the odduess of many names that were called; 
particularly those of the German inhabitants; of whom there 
is a considerable number in this district. Some, whose names 
in the original German were rather awkward and harsh to an 
English ear, have, instead of softening them, and by some 
slight and unessential change adai^ting them to the English 
idiom, resorted to the singular expedient of translating them, 
and exchanging them for such English words as they most 
nearly signify. Such are the names of Turnip-seed and 
Schoou-maker. 

The present occasion enabled me to learn something of the 
appearance, character, and manners of the great mass of the 
country people in these parts. The contrast between them 
and the Columbians is very striking. They are indeed a rude, 
unpolished race. They are, both men and women, almost with- 
out exception, dressed in coarse homespun cotton of a mixed 
color. There is nothing like fashion, taste or refinement about 
them. Tlie women wore short loose-gowns and petticoats, 
and sun-bonnets of the same cloth. They were standing about 
in public places all day, gaping and staring at everybody and 
every thing that was in any degree new to them. Some of the 
women had crying children in their arms. There were many 
girls of 18 or 20, who, with other women showed so little dif- 
fidence or sense of decency as to crowd up to the bar among 
the multitude, and even step up on the benches behind the 
lawyers to look over their shoulders. The street was full of 
hucksters' waggons and stalls as on public days in Connecticut. 

Tues. Nov. UK * * * The presiding judge is Thomas 
W^aties, Esq. of Sumpter District.' He appears to be about 
fifty years old: — has much apparent meekness in his counte- 
nance, and exhibits, throughout, a dignified demeanor. Sitting 
himself, he gives his charges to the jury sitting. This, he does 
in plain, familiar terms; in a manner quite modest, and free 
from ostentation. Judge W. is thought to have a greater store 
of legal knowledge than any other judge on the bench: — but 

' Thomas Waties (1760-1828) was an associate Judge of the Court of Appeals from 1785 to 
1811, of {he Court of Equity from 1811 to 1824, anil of I lie law courts again from 1824 to 1828. 
O'iS'eall, Bench and Bar of South Carolina, I, 43, 44. 



DTARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 865 

some of the lawyers are miwilliug to allow liim full ciedit ibr 
caudor. 

Wedn. Nov. 20. Mr. Egan spoke nearly two hours iu court: — 
appeared much engaged: — did not leave the case perfectly 
clear, but rather clouded by the multiplicity of his views 
and reasonings. — I suppose he felt as if his side was a preca- 
rious one. Mr. jSTott' spoke about 20 minutes in reply. His 
method was clear; his language perspicuous and without the 
least embellishment: — his manner moderate, modest and un- 
affected. — Mr. N. is a native of Conn, and a graduate of Y. Coll. 
He once represented one of the upper districts of this state in 
Congress; but gave his constituents offence by voting for Burr 
in preference to Jefferson, and was from that time left out of 
civil office. The judge, in his charge to the jury alluded to 
Egan's long- and intricate speech, intimating- that there had 
been an unnecessary waste of time, and cautioned them against 
being led from the plain course of rectitude by what had been 
importunately and artfully urged by one of the counsel. The 
legislature have not yet made a quorum. * * * 

Friday Nov. 22nd. The court finished its business last even- 
ing and adjourned. The time has been short yet much business 
has been accomplished. It is a common saying that the Caro- 
linians are industrious in nothing but law business. Whatever 
might be the case as to the truth of the general remark, I was 
now convinced that the exception was properly made. The 
judge rarely adjourns the court for dinner, and he tolerates no 
delay on any account whatever. If a jury-man, or an officer of 
the court is not at his post in due season, he is reprimanded or 
fined. Two setts of jurymen are kept in readiness, so that as 
soon as one has retired to make a verdict, the other may begin 
to try a new cause. * * * 

Saturday Nov. 23. * * * The senate made a quorum 
this morning. The other house, in order to do it, found it nec- 
es.sary to send out their messenger to request the attendance 
of such members as he might find scattered about the town. 
Among other places, he came to the office to find Mr. Egan. 
Egan was very busy just then in arranging some court papers, 
and not a little perplexed with the multiplicity of his avoca- 
tions. ''■ Mr. Egan'''' said the messenger ^'- the memhers present 
their compliments^ and request the favor of your attendance at 

•'Abraham Nott, Tale 1788, Member of Congress 1799-1801, afterwards (1810-1830) a law 
judge. O'Neall, ii, 121, 122. 



864 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

the HoHse''\ "J am very husily employed'- said Egan: "/ donH 
see how I can //o". The messenger replied; '■'■They want only 
one or two more to mal-e a quorum, and they're very anxious to 
organise the IIouse''\ "J canH help it^\ was the reply, ^^yoti 
must go to somebody else ". ^'■I fear they canH get a quorum with- 
out you'\ ^^Well, D — n the quorum — I tell you ifs impossihle 
for me to go overy Thus ended the Dialogue. However, tliey 
succeeded in collecting a sufficient number without him, and 
proceeded to business. Mr. W, C. Piuckney the standing' 
speaker being absent, a new one was elected viz. Mr. Josei)h 
Alston a beauish young mau of about 28, from Georgetown.' 
A committee of three was sent out to inform him. They 
returned in a few miuutes and in a ceremonious style con- 
ducted him to the desk and introduced him into the Speaker's 
chair. He entered the room draped in a long black silk gown, 
the Speaker's habit; ^ and after having taken the chair, rose and 
made a short speech of two minutes. He appeared at first 
considerably embarrassed; yet spoke pertinently. A consid- 
erable number of the members appear very young. Very few 
appear to be more than 50 years old. They difter very much 
in age, dialect, dress and manners. Some have showy and 
costly dress; but not a small number are plain, rustic sort of 
folk dressed in their own manufactures. Some speak like for- 
eigners, as they probably are: Some have the polished lan- 
guage of the Charlestonians : and some the coarse and more 
blunt language of the mountaineers. The lower house (as 
is customary I understand) appointed a- chaplain to perform 
divine service on Sundays, and by a large majority voted him 
100 dlls for his services. A few were opposed to the motion. 
One plain-looking old fellow with flapt hat and each hand in 
a pocket, got up hastily, and in rather an ill humored tone 
said '■'■Let them that go to hear him put their hands in their 
pochets and pay him themselves.''^ The house adjourned at noon, 
because it was found, in the midst of their business, that some 
members having gone off, a sufficient number was not left for 
a quorum. Thus ends a week of Carolina legislation! * * * 
Tues. Nov. 26. Very busy all the morning in writing briefs 
and affidavits, in preparation for the Court of Appeuls which 
begins its Session to-day. These briefs are concise statements 



' Speaker throughout the time of Hooker's residenc'e in Columbia. 

^By a resolution passed this session, December 19, 1805, provision was made for tlie 
Speaker's wearing hereafter a gown of blue satin trimmed with white ermine. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 865 

of the cases carried up from a single judge's court to the full 
bench, and are in some respects a substitute for writs of error. 
Writs of error are not known in this state. These briefs are 
usually of such length as to fill half a sheet: and there must 
be as many (copies of each one as there are judges on the 
bench. — After this went over to the State House. I am fond 
of resorting thither occasionally because it is a relaxation from 
the fatigue of writing, and because it affords me one of the best 
opportunities for learning the Carolinian character. It is not 
difficult to see that the Carolinians are fond of acting in public 
affairs — of figuring in debate — of having, or appearing to have 
an influence in measures of State. There are a great many of 
the members who (;an't sit easy, without having an agency in 
all that is doing. It is disgusting to see such ignorant men as 
some of them are continually putting in a word, making motions, 
or objecting to them; and all without any apparent reason 
except to make a noise and get notice. But it all ])asses well 
enough. Good patriotism! Sublime efforts in their country's 
cause! Perhaps they think with Sallust; ^^ Fulchruvi est bene 
faccre reipuhlicae; etiam bene dicere hand absurduni est''\ Mr. 
John Taylor,^ who represents the Election district of Saxe 
Gotha on the other side of the Congaree, but who lives in this 
town, was among the most sensible of those who spoke today. 
He argued about 10 or 12 minutes very earnestly against the 
propriety of allowing the Gov. to communicate his information 
to a committee of the House, instead of laying it before the 
House at large. He thought such an allowance would be an 
undue ai)proximation towards an union of the Executive and 
legislative powers. His language was good; but he deviated 
in .some measure from the ])oint in question. Mr. Wm. Lowndes 
of Charleston,^ a young man of i)erhaps 26, in a short, but very 
luminous speech replied; and was attended to by a remarkably 
silent house. 

The members sit with their hats on; only taking them off 
when they rise to speak. Their number I imagine is not more 
than half as great as that of the lower house in Conn.^ Ques- 
tions are decided not by holding up hands but by acclama- 
tion. * * * 

1 Major John Taylor (1770-1832), member of Congress 1807-1810, of the Uuited States 
Senate 1810-1816, of Congress 1816-1817, governor of South Carolina 1826-1828. 

2 William Lowndes (1782-1822) afterwards famous as a prominent member of Congress 
1811-1822, and noted from early youth for sagacity in luiblic atfairs. 

•'Their number was 124. 

H. Doc. 353 55 



866 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

Wedn. Nov. 27. Attended the Court of Appeals this fore- 
noon. This Court is sometimes called the constitutional court ; 
1 sujipose from the circumstances o± its taking the constitu- 
tion for its primary guide, and setting aside such decisions as 
are founded on unconstitutional Statutes for this is a right 
insisted on by this court, and one which has been Avithin a 
short time, executed.^ The judges are all dressed in black 
robes, wear bands, and make a venerable appearance. They 
sit with their hats on or oft", as inclination or accident requires. 
Their names are Grimke and Bay of Charleston, Waties of 
Statesburg, Brevard of Camden, Tresevant of Charleston, and 
Wilds of Darlington district.^ Mr. Wilds is very young: not 
over thirty two, it is said — and the most popular judge in 
the State. 

ThuYSi. Nov. 28. Went into the Senate Chamber. The Sen- 
ate appears rather more venerable than the other house; but 
there is not that Striking difference, which I had expected, to 
see ; and which I had been accustomed to see between the two 
branches of the Conn. Legislature. A few of them appear 
very young, for so high a station — They are 3G in number, and 
sit in three concentric semicircles fronting the President.'* 
The Pres. wears a long light blue satin robe, edged with white 
fur. The members are for the most part quite ordinary men 
in point of talents, though they are men of property. A few 
are lawyers and physicians; but most of them are planters. 
The leading Senators are Mr. Ward (the Pres.) of Charleston, 
Col. Barnwell of Beaufort, Mr. Smith of Yorkville, Mr. Stark 
of this town, and Mr. Izard of Goose-Creek.* In the lower 
house, Mr. Keating Simons, a lawyer of Charleston, Mr. W. 
Smith'' a lawyer also from the same place, Mr. Cochran the 
Intendant of the city, Mr. Henry Deas a merchant, Mr. David 
Deas, once a lawyer (both living in Charleston, but I believe 
representing some country place) Maj. John Taylor of Colum- 
bia, Mr. Eagen of Columbia, Mr. Evans, of Wiunsborough and 
Sj)eaker Alston are among the ablest men, but do not all take 

'In White v. Kendrick, 1 Brevard 469, at the session next preceding this, April, 1805. 

2 John Fiiiicheraud Grimk6, Elihu Hall Bay, Thomas Waties, Joseph Brevard, Lewis C. 
Trezevant, Samuel Wilds. See O'Neall, Vol. I. 

3 At this time, John Ward. 

4 John Ward; Robert Barnwell (1762-1814) ; William Smith (1762-1840) .judge 1808-1816, 
U. S. Senator 1817-1823, 1826-1830, the opponent of Calhoun ; Robert Stark (17C2-1830) 
state solicitor; further characterizations of most of those will be found later; lives of 
most of them are given in O'Neall's Bench and Bar of South Carolina. 

'• William Loughton Smith (1758-1812) member of Congress 1789-1797, minister to Portii- 
gal and Spain. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 8G7 

au active part. The most active of tliese are Simons, Smith 
the two Taylors, the two Ueas and Alston. There is another 
sett who are up very often, and although of inferior, and some 
of them even of contemptible talents, yet they are not without 
influence. Such are Col. Hill, a very old man from York, 
D. E. Huger (pronounced Hugee) from Georgetown, Mr. John- 
son from Edgefield, Ool. Mays from Cambridge, Maj. Miles 
from the neighborhood of Savannah, A, B. Stark from Granby, 
John Izard Wright from near Beaufort. Several of these are 
however, men of good sense, though not well educated, nor 
extensively informed. 

Friday Rov. 29. * * * It is not an uncommon thing in 
this state for foreigners to be promoted to civil offices. Sev- 
eral are in the State legislature: and they have in several 
instances been sent to Cougress. Mr. O'Brien Smith, ^ who is 
elected a member of Congress in Col. Hampton's stead is an 
Irish gentleman of great property in the low country. He is 
said to be very friendly and useful to any of his countrymen 
that apply to him, however mean their condition may be; and 
provided they conduct uprightly, and prove friendly to our 
government, he takes a pleasure in patronising them. He is 
tall, strait, portly and robust — genteel in appearance, and 
resembling considerably Col. Uavid Humphreys of Conn.'* 

Sat. Nov. 30. * * * The Federal court sat today; but 
there being no causes before it, the two juries were immedi- 
ately dismissed, without receiving any charge, and the court 
adjourned. Judge Bee attended.-' * * * 

Mon. Dec. 2nd. The important question of the slave-trade 
came on today in the Hcuse of Representatives, in a Commit- 
tee of the whole. The principal speakers on the subject were 
Simons, Speaker Alston, Miles, Taylor (of Pendleton) and 
Wright.^ Some others made occasional observations. Simons 
and Alston were for shutting the ports, the other three against 
it. The advocates for the prohibition did honor to themselves 
and their cause by their eloquence and the liberality and cor- 

i Member of Congress, 1805-1807. 

''Col. David Humphreys (1752-1818) aicl-de-camp of Washington, minister to Portugal 
1791-1796, to Spain 1796-1802. 

^Thomas Bee, judge of the United States District Court for the district of South Caro- 
lina. 

■• By successive enactments, from 1787 to 1803, the importation of slaves into South Caro- 
lina had been prohibited. These laws were repealed December 17, 1803, and importation 
remained legal until January 1, 1808, when it became illegal by Act of Congress. Du Boi.s, 
Suppression of the Slave Trade. 229-240, 245. In four years 39,075 slaves were brought iu 
at Charleston. Charleston Year Book, 1880, p. 263. 



868 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

rectness of their principles. Maj. Taylor on tlie other side did 
as well as the nature of the cause would permit. Simons' lan- 
guage was choice and elegant, his expression clear and per- 
spicuous, his gestures graceful and animated. But there is too 
much appearance of study in his Avhole manner. He dwelt a 
little on the true policy of the System, as it respects the money 
making part of it — much on the danger to be feared from the 
number of blacks in the country — much on the injustice and 
inhumanity of the trafdc. He continued perhaps 20 minutes. 
There was a variety in his delivery that engaged attention: 
for he sometimes spoke very loud, and sometimes, particu- 
larly in ending his sentences, hardly raised his voice above a 
whisper. He liad, in the course of his speech, several sudden 
exclamations which would have been more moving, had they 
been a little more natural. It was a very regular, well con- 
structed, and elegant speech, 1 presume it was previously pre- 
pared, if not written at full length, for the occasion. Alston's 
speech appeared to me more like an extemporaneous one, though 
it is said by such as are acquainted with him, that he always, 
without exception, writes his speeches. He, like Simons, used 
notes; but did not recur to them so often; nor did he confine 
himself so much to method, nor avoid so scrupulously every 
expression not stamp'd with elegance: yet his arrangement 
was not bad, nor his language undignified. He did not, at 
first, speak with uncommon fluency: indeed he stammered a 
little: but when he became once fairly engaged, his words 
appeared to flow with the greatest ease. His figures and 
allusions, were eminently striking and beautiful, and his 
speech abounded with them. He dropped some excellent 
moral and political sentiments, quoted two or three texts of 
sublime morality from the scriptures, and with great vehemency 
and apparent sincerity urged the house to consult the dictates 
of justice, and humanity, in opposition to sordid interest. His 
manner of delivery was extremely good, — and his gestures 
forcible and expressive. He labored sometime, and with suc- 
cess, to shew that the increase of slaves tends to destroy that 
equality which is the basis of our republican institutions, and 
insisted that it is not only unjust to bring them in, but demon- 
strably injurious to the real interests of the State. In his 
argument was a fund of good sense and useful information. 
The utmost silence pervaded the house while he spoke thirty 
five or forty minutes. Mr. Alston is a short man, and rather 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 8G9 

thick. Of a dark complexion — with thick, bhick hair and a 
formidable pair of whiskers that cover a great part of his face, 
ajid nearly meet, at the chin. His dress and demeanor are 
well deserving- the name of hucklsh. When not in the legisla- 
tive hall, he may be seen, as often as any where, about the 
stables, looking at fine horses, dressed in a short jockey like 
surtout or frock, and laced and tossled boots, with a segar in 
Ids mouth, and with much more of the "gig and tandem" 
levity, than of the austere virtues of a senatorial leader. In- 
deed he is one of the last persons that I should have picked 
out from the crowd of people in town, for a i)resident of one 
branch of the legislature. 

Major Miles is a fat-looking, but well built man of perhaps 
forty live, from Prince William parish, and cavalry officer in 
the militia, as I judge from his frequent motions, resolutions, 
talks &c. relative to that subject. He shows much of a vain, 
forward demeanor, and is pretty independent : but I have as yet 
seen no display of abilities by him, to justify his forwardness. 
In the present case he was evidently under disadvantages, by 
l)eing enlisted on a bad side of the question. The resolution 
under consideration as drawn up by Mr. Alston was i^refaced 
with several considerations, which Miles and some others could 
not get over : such as the inconsistency of the slave trade with 
the precepts of Christianity — with justice, humanity &c., and 
lastly with the true interest of the State. Miles was for con- 
sidering the question only in the light last mentioned, and 
could not see the propriety of prefacing the resolve with con- 
siderations of religion, justice, and humanity: "for" says he 
"Kobody on this floor doubts that; and therefore we ought 
only to ask '•'■Is it for our interest to shut the ports"? We did 
not come here to debate on what makes for or against religion, 
but what makes for or against the interest of our constitu- 
[ents]". He then attempted to shew that the smuggling of 
negroes would be the consequence of shutting the ports, — and 
that the upper country would not have equal privileges with 
the lower, if now, when they are fast becoming rich enough to 
buy slaves, they are prevented by the laws, while the lower 
country are already supplied. Maj. Taylor took a. different 
and much less odious way: and exhibited in his argument 
considerable candor. He said he had once advocated the 
shutting of the ports, but he thought it impracticable now to 
prevent smuggling, without building Home revenue vessels: and 



870 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

as til e general government would doubtless take up the sub 
ject after two years more lie tliouglit it best for the State to let 
the matter rest, and meanwhile give the upper country i)laut- 
ers an opportunity, by purchasing more slaves, to be on a more 
equal footing with their fellow citizens in the lower country. 
He reasoned coolly and dispassionately, and addressed the 
understanding in plain, perspicuous, and handsome language; 
though there was too much monotony in his delivery. A 
maiority of the house, I was gratified to find, were so much 
swayed by a sense of justice, as to pass the resolution, 

Tueti. Dec. 3rd. Attended the debates of the Senate part of 
the day, and had the pleasure of hearing Mr. John Ward, a 
lawyer of Charleston. A more pleasing speaker, I have rarely 
heard. When he is engaged in something which he has pre- 
viously considered, and that he fully understands, there is 
nothing to diminish the pleasure of the hearer, unless it be the 
extreme slowness of his utterance. There is however nothing 
of that pain which is felt in attending to a speaker who is at a 
loss for words: for one soon learns that he has at command a 
rich stock of words, and ideas: and that the hesitancy which 
he discovers, is the result of deliberate good sense formed into 
a habit: for it does not take place in such parts of a sentence 
as are strictly connected, but only between the members of the 
sentences and between the sentences themselves. He speaks 
entirely in the Sheridanian dialect, which is, as far as I have 
observed, much the most common dialect of well educated 
Charlestonians. — Mr. W. is a small man — pleasant and face- 
tious disposition — penetrating look — quick and graceful mo- 
tion — dignified when in the chair of the Senrute, but a little prone 
to levity when out of it. So able an orator as he is, it seems 
unfortunate that he should in any degree injure that influence 
which he might possess, by sometimes taking his side too, 
hastily on an unimportant question, and speaking, though verj^ 
beautifully, yet with too little judgment. Mr. W. was, till 
lately. President of the Senate, but being obliged to be absent 
a part of the time, resigned the chair, and was succeeded by 
Col. Robert Barnwell. Col. B. is a tall, portly, well built man 
of about sixty years — a man of singular gravity, and possessed 
of great influence in the Senate. Said to be an eminent orator, 
and a very religious character. An attempt was once made, 
though without any success, to debar him from holding a seat 
in the legislature on the ground of his being a preacher, because 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 871 

lie had one summer, while his minister was gone on a journey 
for his health, read the service in the church, and sometimes 
exhorted the audience. He resembles considerably Gen. 
Wyllys of Hartford.' Mr. Stark has a thundering, overbear- 
ing, positive manner of speaking- resembling- (except the squeak- 
ing part) in tone and delivery Henry 11. Storrs.^ * * * 

Wedn. Dee. 1th. * * * The commencement exhibition of 
the newly instituted college in this jdace was held this evening. 
I attended it, and found considerable entertainment. The only 
junior the Sophomores and Freshmen, exhibited pieces, some 
selected and some composed by themselves. They consisted 
of one Latin and one Greek oration, Declamations, and Dia- 
logues. Mostof tlie subjects were trite and common, such as 
tlie benefits of education, the necessity of knowledge in a repub- 
lic, the vanity of riches, pleasures, &c. as the means of hap- 
piness — but the performances were all decent, considering 
circumstances, and some of them very handsome in style, 
sentiment and delivery. Some of the Dialogues were replete 
with humor. Each of the performances was applauded by 
clapjiing hands and drumming with the feet. 

Thurs. Dee. 5th. After spending an hour or two at the office 
this forenoon, went over to the Eepresentative's chamber and 
heard Messrs David Deas (pronounced Days) Wm. Lowndes 
and Gist^ speak on the subject of Capt.Eowse's petition.^ Deas 
had a loud, vehement, overbearing manner of delivery, though 
his voice is not heavy, uses fewer gestures than most of the 
Speakers and takes very little pains to polish his language. 
He is however a pretty good speaker. I understand he is a 
lawyer of some note in Charleston, and rei>resents one of the 
country parishes. 

Lowndes has a very soft, mild voice, speaks low but very dis- 
tinctly and clearly — has a remarkably, candid, sincere, unsus- 
picious manner of addressing himself to the house — a manner 
so engaging as to command an universal silence. He does not 
ornament his speech with flowers, and is altogether natural and 
unaffected. He gestures but very little, having other means 

' Samuel Wyllys (1739-1823), general of militia, at this time secretary of the State of 
Counecticut. 

2 Henry R. Storrs (1787-1837), who had been in the class above Hooker at Tale, was a 
member of Congress from New York, 1819-1831. 

3 Joseph Gist, member of the legislature 1803-1821, member of ('ongress, 1821-1827. 
O'Neall, II, 219. 

■I See Acts of 1805, pp. 100-102. Rowse, being a senior captain in a militia regiment, 
claimed the right to draw lots with another captain for the vacant position of major. 



872 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

to engage attention, viz, plain and intelligible, yet very choice 
language, good sense, concise thoughts and expressions, clear 
method, and a lucid illustration of the point which he at- 
tempts. Re is not at all forward in the house, but when he 
does rise, invariably to some pur^wse, and exhibits some views 
of the subject which had been overlooked by others. Gist . 
(pronounced Ghist) is a lawyer of some repute from the back 
country, who, though without any thing like polish of diction, 
commonly speaks to the i)urpose, and has considerable merit as 
a speaker. Deas and Gist were in favor of annulling the Gov- 
ernor's i)roceeding in the case of Capt. Eowse. Lowndes was 
against any legislative interference in the case. * * * 

Frid. Dec. Gth. In the H. of E. today, Mr. Henry Deas of 
Charleston distinguished himself by an eloquent speech on 
Capt. Eowse's case. He was of opinion that it is a question 
determinable by a military tribunal, and one that the Legisla- 
ture could not interfere with, on either ground, of right or 
policy. He was very animated, energetic, clear and concise. 
His gestures were very forcible, and not without expression, 
his language choice but not flowery — his voice loud and thun- 
dering. I think, I like his oratory better, considering all cir- 
cumstances, than that of any one whom I have before heard. 
Ml-. D. is said to be an uncommonly aycII informed legislator 
on questions of Banks, insurances, incorporations and subjects 
of that nature, but on questions in general does not often take 
an active part. Maj. Miles took a Avarm part in the debate in 
favor of Capt. Eowse. When the final vote was taken, a con- 
siderable majority appeared in favor of ac(;epting the report 
of the Committee of the whole, which report was in favor of 
Eowse. 

Hat. Dec. 7th. Assisted in making up judgments &c. at the 
office, till one o'clock: — then went into the senate and heard 
part of the debate on the subject of establishing free schools 
throughout the state.^ The excellent Col. Barnwell, in a com- 
mittee of the whole, spoke upon it with a great deal of good 
sense, good reasoning and eloquence. Indeed he is considered 
one of the greatest orators in the state. He has a heavy, 
sonorous voice which completely fills the room. It is some- 
what rolling, and has in it something similar to Gov. Tread- 
well's of Connecticut, though more smooth and i)leasant. His 
gestures are principally with extended arms, quite expressive 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 873 

and graceful, but not accomi^anied by so many nourishes as 
Alston's. His manuer of speaking is extremely natural and 
engaging. With a dignified animation highly becoming such 
a man and such a cause, he argued for the extension of the 
means of education to every section of the country. You talk 
much, says he, of the importance of having courts of justice 
established in all parts of your land, that crimes may be _?r«m- 
ished : why not strike out the root of the evil by extending the 
means of education, that your children may learn to read the 
Bible, and be instructed in the great principles of morality, 
and thus crimes be prevented f • Col. B. also proved himself a 
good statesman by the remarks he made on the resources of 
the State, and its ability now and in future to accomplish 
objects of the kind proposed. Like Dr. Dwight, he seemed to 
think that large bodies of men, such [as] a legislature for 
example, are the worst of money managers. — With such views, 
he moved to strike out of the bill a certain clause, in which the 
Legislature were about to give some minute directions about 
this State's share of the IT. S. stock for the use of schools : — he 
insisting that in case the management of it should be left to 
the Comptroller General instead of the Legislature, the issue 
of the business would undoubtedly be advantageous; but that 
nothing could be more impolitic than for the legislature^ 
through excess of jealousy or distrust, to undertake the man- 
agement of such complicated money matters themselves. His 
motion was acceded to, though the bill itself, for some reason 
or other did not exactly suit the members. One or two attempts 
have formerly been made to accomplish this desirable object, 
but they have not succeeded. I cannot learn however, that the 
failures are owing to any hostility to the scheme: on the con- 
trary, everybody seems to be in favor of it : but the difficulty 
of concentrating the views of the members in any one satis- 
factory plan has, more than any one thing else i^robably been 
the cause. The evils of a sparse population are in this respect 
now brought out to view, and the utility of such a system of 
settlement in towns and villages as j)revails in New England 
is strikingly apparent. * * * 

December 9th. Wrote very steadily in the office till two o'clock 
in the afternoon, when I felt quite fatigued enough to go into 
the State House for recreation. The Senate were debating on 
the Slave trade. Mr. Izard spoke with much ingenuity in favor 
of Tieeiyinfi open the ports. Though possest of much mercantile, 



874 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

and geographical knowledge, and some literature, he cannot 
be called a good speaker. His language is proper and flows 
with sufficient ease; but like many other members, who are 
probably either foreigners, or else accustomed to associate with 
foreigners, he is not easily undei stood by one [unused] to such 
foreign dialects. His gestures are easy enough, but i-ather 
singular; and are usually made with arms not widely extended, 
by sometimes clasping the hands, and at other times by bring- 
ing the back of the right hand with a slap into the palm of 
the left. There is another peculiarity in his action. Every 
half minute he retreats back t>vo or three steps from his chair 
(which he <;ommonly places before. him while speaking) and 
then after standing so a short time, with two or three sprightly 
and graceful steps advances again to his place. Occasionally, 
he takes his steps sideways instead of back and forth — These 
motions are not entirely agreeable, because not adapted to any 
good purpose, yet they appear to be the result of vehement feel- 
ings in the speaker, and not of affectation. When I went in, 
he was speaking on the question of interest; and attempting 
to shew that the scarcity of specie in the country is not owing 
to the Slave trade, but to the exportation of dollars to Great 
Britain, where a high premium is given for them to carry on 
the East India trade with, and also to the East India trade 
itself as carried on by Americans, — particularly the ISTew Eng- 
landers. He spoke with some humor on the enterprise of the 
New Englanders in "sallying out from every little village 
where a boat of a few tons burthen, and that will hold five 
Yankeys can come up, and entering on East India voyages 
with a little ginseng to barter Mith, and the rest of the cargo 
in dollars." In stating the inducements which exist for the 
exportation of specie thither, he observed that the population 
is so great in China, it cannot be increased — and public officers 
are appointed to go about the streets every morning, and bury 
or throw into the rivers the bodies of infants that have been 
cast out. This immense x'opulation makes the price of labor 
so very small that we in America and G. B. who are accus- 
tom'd to such high wages and prices, can't have any conception 
of it. I have seen, says he, a black silk vest that any beau in 
the State would be proud to wear, sold in Canton for seven 
pence (12i cents) and a complete suit of nankeen from head to 
shoulders sold for half a dollar. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 875 

Dee. 10th. Visited the Senate elianiber this nioriiiiig, and 
lieard a debate on the constitntioiiality and propriety of liav- 
iug- the judges of E(iuity and the judges of the Common pleas 
ex-ofificiis Trustees of the State College.^ Mr. Izard made a 
handsome speech in favor of it— it was very luminous, full of 
good sense, and very creditable to himself. He animadverted 
very pointedly on the republicanism of those members who 
were for excluding from the government of the College this 
learned body of men, and having their places filled by nobody 
knows who, according to the caprice of the legislature in their 
quatrenuial appointments — Mr. Ward also spoke on the sub- 
ject, and insisted that not only the judges, but also the Presi- 
dent of the College, should by all means belong, as a matter 
of course to the corporation. It gave me pleasure to hear the 
case of the college in my State brought up as a precedent for 
the latter measure. It is the case I believe, says Mr. Ward, 
in all the New England colleges, that the President, ex-officio, 
holds a seat in the Board. In Yale College, he is not only a 
member, but occasionally presides in the Board. I well 
remember, when I was at New Haven, that Dr. Dwight was 
considered next in rank to the governor, and in Mr. Trumbull's 
absence, presided in the Board of that College. 

This day had been appointed for a military parade in town. 
There had been so much i)revious talk abont it, that I was 
induced to expect something grand. Two regiments, one of 
infantry, and one of cavalry, had been ordered out but only 
abont half the infantry, and only one company (20 or 25 
in number) of the cavalry made their appearance on the 
ground. I presume the whole number did not exceed 230 
men. To one accustomed to view the martial spirit of the 
Connecticut militia, their appearance was wretched beyond 
belief. The Governor, with his three aids and private Secre- 
tary, accompanied also by Gen. M'Pherson, reviewed the regi- 
ment. They were all richly dressed, handsomely mounted, 
and riding- by with heads uncovered, made an august appeg^r- 
ance. Two of the aids were Marshall Cochran the Intendant 
of Charleston,- and Col. Warren who having lost a leg at the 
battle of Germantown, was attended by a servant on horse- 
back bearing- his crutches. Adjutant Gen. Earle who is paid 

' By act of December 14, 1805 (Acts of 1805, pp. 82-84) the judges of the common pleas 
were added to the board of trustees of the college. 

' Charles E. Coehrau was intendaut of Charlestou this year. Charleston Year Book, 
1881, p. 369. 



876 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

by the State for atteudiug all the reviews, was on the ground 
from the beginning, to see the regiment formed. He then 
instructed the ofiicers how- to perform some evolutions, and 
assigned them their several posts. Exercised the regiment in 
marching, wheeling &c. and had the chief command. He is 
an excellent officer, and exhibits a liandsome appearance. 
Bears the rank and title of Colonel. Col. Meyer (pronounced 
Myers) the Commandant of the Reg't. rode an indifferent 
horse appeared very awkward and evidently understood little 
or nothing about Lis business. He is such a simpleton that 
when once administering the oath in a sort of Court, Martial, 
he read the whole form as it stands in the Statute Book 
including the Quaker proviso — thus ^'- You A. B. do solenmJy 
swear {or affirm as the case may he) that the evidence you now 
(jlce in, is true iC'c. Mnj. Clifton appeared advantageously, 
though a clubfooted Major could not fail to strike an observer 
as an incongruity. — Maj. Sheppard rides an ordinary, steady 
old white horse, with a plain saddle, one girt and single bridle. 
Xo holsters, no saddle cloth, and no unusual apj)aratus about 
his steed. He is a pleasant featured young man of about 2S 
or 30 — very modest and still on parade, makes no exertions, 
and probably knows little about military discipline. The Caj)- 
tains, four in number, were in regimentals, and with some of 
the subalterns appeared decently: but two or three of the 
Lieutenants or Ensigns had neither unilorms, nor arms. 
Another of the subalterns, had a gun, cartouch box and bay- 
onet, but no part of the military dress. The Artillery men, 
about sixteen in number, with one brass Held piece, were in 
unitbrm. Besides these there was not a foot soldier (save one 
or two, and they were probably Serjeants or Corporals), in 
regimentals. The non-commissioned officers generally, were 
not only without military dress and insignia, but ordinarily, 
and some of them even meanly dressed. Several of them were 
without guns, and more without cartouch boxes. l>ut the sol- 
diers! O foul disgrace to a free republic! the soldiers seemed, 
literally, a herd of ragamuffins — Dressed for the most part, 
very meanly and as many as one in every eight or ten, without 
either gun. Hint, cartouch box or any thing characteristic of a 
soldier — At least half of them with gun only. Some Avith a 
horn for jiowder slung under the arm, and a few with old rusty, 
mouldy cartouch boxes. Perhaps there was iu)t a bright gun 
in the whole regiment. Col. Hutchinson and Maj, (Joodwiu of 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 877 

the cavalry came on, but as their troops did not appear, they 
were merely spectators. Tliey both appear respectably, the 
former like a veteran the other like a daring, fierce, undaunted 
sou of Mars. After the review and manoeuvering- were over, 
the governor and his suit dismounted, left their horses, and 
walked up to meet half way the Field and Company officers in 
front of the line. The Gov. then made a very sensible and 
pertinent address to them ; not an eulogy or a compliment : but 
he regretted the want of military spirit and discipline which 
he perceived, and told them in plain terms that both officers 
and soldiers were ceusurably deficient. He addressed them 
seriously on the consequences of the undisciplined state of 
their troops in case of a war, and urged several considerations 
to stimulate them to exertions; such as their proximity to the 
seat of government, where they would be more noticed by the 
public &c. Col. Meyer, in the midst of this censure, undertook 
to put in a word by way of apology. Gov. Hamilton took no 
other notice of him than to turn his eye and say " I'm not to 
be interrupted" — then went on with his address. The Gov. is 
a middle sized and middle aged man, has a handsome demeanor, 
speaks with some ease, but not with the fluency of an orator. 
* * * In short the whole business was ridiculous in the 
extreme and disgraceful to freemen. The troop of horse had 
no music, and in the Eeg't of foot there were only 4 or 5 drum- 
mers and one fife and half of those were negroes. The com- 
panies were dismissed about three o'clock P.M. I did not see 
that rioting, druidcenness, fighting and general irregularity 
through the remainder of the day, which from the nature of 
the case, and the representations I have often heard made, I 
had reason to expect. Indeed I walked almost the length of 
the main street, towards night, to observe how it was; and 
found myself greatly disapi)ointed. I saw some firing, and 
some clusters of men where there was a little high talk, but 
no quarreling, and indeed nothing more than what is frequent 
in the ISTorthern States. 

Wedn. Dec. 11th. A resolution passed in the Senate of this 
State today, to prohibit the freemen (or electors as they are 
termed) from voting in more than one place.' I understand 
that serious abuses of the right of suffrage have been hereto- 
fore committed by persons who owned property in different 



' This resolution passed the house the next day; Acts of 1805, 



878 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

districts and parishes, attending- the elections in those differ- 
ent i^laces, and exercising thereby an undue influence. By 
this means, the city of Charleston could gain au immense 
weight in the legislature: her citizens being- accustomed to 
sally out and carry au election in several country parishes 
where the number of resident electors is small. The parish 
of St. Andrews is such an one: though containing only about 
fifty families, it sends three representatives and one senator to 
the General Assembly. In some parishes in the low country 
it is said the disproportion is still greater. The reason is, that 
the increase of wealth and the multiplication of negroes have 
diminished the white population. This was stated and 
explained by Simons and Alston in their speeches on the slave 
trade; thus: As one man grows wealthy and thereby increases 
his stock of negroes, he wants more land to employ them on : 
and being fully able, he bids a high price for his less opulent 
neighbor's plantation, who by selling- advantageously here, can 
raise money enough to go into the back country, where he can 
be more on a level with the most forehanded, can get lands 
cheaper, and speculate or grow rich by industry as he pleases. 
In the lower house, the bill for the abolition of the slave 
trade had a second reading, ajid was considered clause by 
clause. The minority appear chagrined that the bill meets 
with such encouragement, and they are constantly trying some 
side blow to defeat its object. It is worthy of remark that as 
a general rule, the members of the lower country have favored 
the prohibition, while those of the upper country have opposed 
it: — there are, however, exceptions both ways. Of tliose Avho 
were strenuous for the continuance of the abominable traffic 
it is strange that some were steady baptists, who least of all 
would be thought to favor slavery. The bill is almost entirely 
indebted for its i)rogress thus far, to the patriotism, talents and 
highly honorable exertions of the Charleston liepresentation. 

JOTJKNAL KO. 2. AT COLUMBIA, S. C. 

Friday Bee. 13, 1805 After spending part of the day in the 
office went over to the State House. The second reading of 
the Bill on the Slave trade was attended to in the Senate. 
The bill having passed the lower house, the public feeling is 
excited about its event here. Mr. Smith, a lawyer from York 
District made a long and rather tedious speech of nearly two 
hours, against it. He is not fluent, nor does he use tbe hand 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 879 

somest language, but he in the course of his argument, gets 
out considerable that is to the purpose. Mr. Stark of this 
place also sjioke at some length in favor of the importation, 
and to Justify it, attempted to show, on the authority of some 
English traveller whose book he brought in and quoted that 
the common inhabitants of Russia, and other parts of Europe 
are in an abject state, and even as badly treated by their 
Superiors as our slaves are by their masters. He believed it, 
he said, a piece of humanity to bring them from Africa, because, 
there, wlien taken prisoners of war, tbey are sold and enslaved, 
or else tortured and killed. Mr. Izard also spoke the second 
time against the bill, and denied that the wars in Africa are 
instigated by white people in order to get slaves. No, said he, 
with emphasis, they are wars of fanaticism, wars arising on 
account of religion and enthusiasm (which are always the most 
bloody) and carried on by the Mahometans against the reli- 
gions of all other persuasions in Africa. The question was 
taken on the 2nd which is the most important clause, and car- 
ried by 16 against 15. There is still room, however, at the final 
question, for the o])posers of the bill who are a strong party, 
to make further resistance and perhaps overthrow it. 

Saturday Bee. 14. Wrote a letter in the morning: then went 
to the State House and saw the ceremony of ratifying Acts; — 
to do which the House of Eepresentatives preceded by their 
Speaker, walk into the Senate Chamber. Then, in presence of 
both houses, the Secretary of State, assisted by the Clerk of 
each house, aftixes the great seal of the State to those bills 
which have passed through the requisite stages in regular 
course. The Speaker of each.house next subscribes his name. 
This being done and the records of the proceedings being read 
by the Clerk of the Senate, the H. of Rep. retires in the same 
order. 

In the course of the day, the final vote w^as taken in the 
Senate on the Bill for the abolition of the Slave trade. The 
principal debate being already over, little was said on it today, 
except by way of explanation : but the minds of the members 
being made up, all waited with anxiety for the event. The 
question was put by the President, and the Ayes and iToes 
taken; during which a peculiar solemnity pervaded the Sen- 
ate room. In favor of the bill appeared the President (Col. 
Barnwell) and fourteen members. Against it were sixteen 
members. Of course it was lost by a majority of one. Much 



880 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

joy was manifested by many. Some of the Senators even rose 
and reached across tables and over chairs to shake hands with 
eacli other, and pass congratulations on the event, the very 
moment it was ascertained. There was a great deal of smil- 
ing and much complacency also in the countenances of many 
of the members of the other house who had come in to be 
spectators, and of the audience generally. Horrid exhibition 
of Horrid Kepublicanism ! 

^Sunddi/, Bee. 15. A riotous scene took place which made 
considerable disturbance. The Speaker of the H. of E. is said 
to have been a principal actor in it. He and several members 
of both houses together with some others went through the 
streets in high glee with a drum and fiddle; to set the toicn to. 
rights as they term it. They went to the lodgings of a number 
of the members, and in case of their failing to rise and admit 
them voluntarily, broke down the doors of their rooms. * * * 

Tues. Dec. 17th. * * * Had considerable of a chat this 
morning, with a Dr. Wilson one of the family boarders, who 
is a member from one of the low country parishes; but who 
by the plainness of his dress and manners seems more like 
one of the Mountain Members, From some remarks that fell 
from him, as Avell as from others with whom I have been in 
company, I find it is here considered a great thing to get 
in favor with the people, to acquire a kind of control over their 
minds and be looked up to by them as a leader. Speaking of 
the militia the ])r. said a military commission is a valuable 
thing, because the holder of it has such an opportunity to gain 
infiuence by being known to officers and soldiers ! By a little 
remissness in the enforcing of the law and especially in the 
business of fines, he has a rare chance to gain favor. This, he 
said is the reason why so many Colonels and Majors are in the 
Legislature. Another man, and a man of influence too, con- 
versing with me this evening on the different professions, 
thought he should prefer that of the physician to Law, because 
it is a popular profession and enables one to get acquainted 
with people and ingratiate himself in their favor. So natural 
it is for Carolinians to exhibit in their common conversa- 
tion, their ruling passion, ambition. That lucrative and hon- 
orable places are a great object with the peoi^le, about here 
cannot fail to be evident to any one who is present during the 
session of the Assembly. Candidates for Sheriffalties, and 
other offlces crowd into town, and wait for whole weeks 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 881 

together at a great expence till the result is known; and they 
often send letters to every member soliciting his vote and 
interest. * * * 

Thiirs. Dec. W. The town is in considerable alarm this after- 
noon. A rumor that began to circulate before noon has now 
towards evening received some confirmation, that a scheme of 
insurrection has been formed among- the negroes on the other 
side of the river, a few miles above this place, in conjunction 
with a party below. Their plan is said to be to assault Granby 
and then come up and burn Columbia; first taking: possession 
of the arms and ammunition deposited in the State House. 

5 oi'doeh P. M. Capt. Fausts artillery-men are collected mak- 
ing cartridges and preparing to defend the town. The alarm 
is increasing, and yet nobody seems to know the true state of 
the case, or whether there be really any serious danger. 

9 o'cloch All is bustle and agitation this evening-. Arms 
have been dealing out to the militia and others. Some are 
mounted on horseback, armed, and some are patroling the 
streets on foot. The artillery-men have a field piece placed on 
the eminence in front of the State House and a fire built up 
in order to alarm the town ia case of any emergency during- 
the night. One negro who is suspected of being active in the 
plot has been committed to jail today, and the patroles have 
orders from the Gov. to take up every one seen out. One poor 
fellow, it is said, has just been shot dead by the patroles at the 
north end of the town, and several have been taken up. The 
town negroes are all in dreadful consternation about the event 
fearing I suppose that they shall perhaps be butchered by one 
party or the other in case their country brethren make the 
attempt. — Mrs. Chapman had occasion to send to the Bakers 
for bread at supper, and requested me to go with him as a 
protector. The innocent fellow, even then, was much afraid 
to venture into the streets; and kept so close behind me as to 
crowd upon me. 

The Assembly have been sitting all this evening, and intend 
to finish all their business in order to adjourn finally. 

Fiid. Dec. 20. The night passed without any new alarm. 
The panic which seized .some people is moderated, and all is 
quiet. Further news from above, however, proves that the 
alarm was not entirely causeless, but removes the dread of 
present danger: for whatever i)roject the slaves may have 
H. Doc. 353 56 



882 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

formed, tbey are now so intimidated, tbat nothing is to be feared 
from tliem. Tlie negro who .was killed last evening was on 
liorseback following, at no great distance, bis master; and as 
tbey bad been out of town and not beard of the alarm, paid no 
regard to the patrole when hailed by him. It is said the Jury 
called to sit on bis body have brought in a verdict of wilful 
murder. 

The members and other gentlemen are leaving town in great 
numbers this morniug. Some in hacks, many in chairs, a few 
in Phaetons, and a few on horseback. 

P. M. The town is mostly cleared of its company and is 
becoming quite still and calm. It is indeed a calm after a 
storm; and it is really pleasurable to have once more such a 
season of tranquility. * * * 

Saturday Dec. 31. * * * A court of Magistrates has been 
sitting for the examination of two suspicious negroes. One of 
them is said to have confessed being engaged in a Scheme of 
insurection to be put into execution at Christmas time. * * * 

[From December 24, 1805, to .Taiiuary 3, 1806, Mr. Hooker was occupied 
ill a jouruey to Beaufort and back to Cohinibia.] 

Feb. 9th. * * * We met also in the street a number of 
new negroes, some of whom had been in the country long 
enough to talk intelligibly. Their likely looks induced us to 
enter in to a talk with them. One of them, a very bright, 
handsome, lively youth of about sixteen, could talk well. He 
told us the circumstances of his being caught and enslaved, 
with as much composure as he would any common occurrence, 
not seeming to think of the injustice of the thing, nor to speak 
of it with indignation. He said his father and mother lived 
in Gola,^ and he liked to live there himself. His appearance 
was manly, genteel and graceful, and such as indicated his 
having been bred in style. He told us that bis Pa (as he called 
bis father) was a Captain. He spoke of bis master and his 
work as though all were right, and seemed not to know he had 
a right to be any thing but a slave. Another of them had his 
upi)er teeth cut or filed into sharp points. He could not talk 
with us, but as far as we could learn, they were designed to 
fight with and possibly he belonged to a Cannibal tribe. 

I heard a fact this evening worthy of note relative to the 
sale of offices. Mr. Taylor, the Clerk of the Court for this 
District, has lately bargained with a Mr. Guigniard for the 



Angola ou • 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 883 

sale of liis office for the sum of ei^ht liuudred dollars. I Lad 
the accouut from Mr. Egau who, beiiiy a member from the Dis- 
trict, recommended the aj)poiiitmeiit to the Goveruor before it 
cau be made aud who had already beeu applied to for such 
recommendation. The .office is said to be worth twelve hun- 
dred a year. 1 have before heard of offices bein^- bartered for. 
A person of my acquaintance agreed with a candidate for the 
Sheriffalty of Lexington to i)rocure him a number of votes in 
the Legislature for the consideration of a pretty valuable silver 
watch. * * * 

Feb. 16. I had been applied to some time ago by the Trus- 
tees of the Cambridge A(;ademy,^ through the medium of Mr. 
North, to take the charge of their Seminary, whenever they 
should be ready to revive and put it in operation (it having 
been for some years neglected) : and wishing to be present at 
their meeting on Tuesday, I set out for that place this forenoon, 
brother J. accompanying me. Eode 25 miles to Williams' 
tavern. We met there with Cowles Mead Esq. who was on 
his way home to Augusta, from Federal city, whither he had 
been as a member of Congress; but his election was disputed 
aud decided against.^ His journey to the Capital, however has 
not been in vain : for he has had conferred upon him the secre- 
taryship of the Mississippi territory.^ He appears to be a 
young man of about thirty, of handsome talents. Converses 
with ease, fluency and propriety. Appears like a man of 
good moral and political i)rinciples, and exhibits in his con- 
versation on j)olitical subjects a degree of candor not often 
discovered in i)oliticians of this day. His deportment is gen- 
teel — but his style of ai)pearance is plain. He travels in a 
sulkey — with one horse, unattended by a servant^ and carries 
pistols. Mr. M. sj^eaks highly of J, C. Smith of Conn.^ and 
considers him a very nseful member of Congress. Mr. B. 
BidwelF he says is becoming conspicuous, and promises to be 
one of the most able men in the House. J. Eandolph'' he 

1 Cambridge was a local but not a le^al desiguatioii for the village which grew up around 
Fort Ninety-six. For the failure of the attempt to make this its legal name, see ancedof e 
of J. C. Calhoun's father, in O'Neall, II, 283. For a description of the place and a liistory 
of the college, see post, February 27 and August 16. The Cambridge Association was 
incorporated by the last legislature; Acts of 1805. 

'^ See Clarke and Hall's Contested Elections, 157-165, Spaulding o. Mead ; aud American 
State Papers, sx, 431-436. 

3 January 20, 1806. Exec. Jou7-. Sen., ii, 16. 

< Johu Cotton Smith (1765-1845), uiember of Congress Irom Connecticut, 1801-1806, gov- 
.^rnor 1813-1818. 

■'■'Barnabas Bidwell of Massachusetts, ineiuber of Congress 1805-1807. 

•"John Kaudolph of Koauoke. 



884 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

thinks is fast losing liis influence, and is even thought by some 
to be going over to the Federal side. He represents Mr. R. as 
one who is fond of having his own opinion prevail and can't 
endure to have it controverted. Mr. Wright of Maryland/ he 
represents as a passionate man, whose furious zeal on party 
subjects will always carry him to extremities, and prevent him 
from effecting any object that he wishes. * * * 

Feh.;27tli. * * * The town of Cambridge is nothing more 
than a snug little village of 15 or 20 houses and stores on the 
top of a small hill called Cambridge Hill. There is an area in 
the center of it, where stands an old brick Court House. At 
a little distance down the hill is the jail, — both in a neglected 
state. Just out of the village in a ideasant plain, quite retired 
from noise, is a two story brick building, which was erected 
for the President's House of the college; but which is now 
designed by the Trustees for the Academy building itself. As 
for the other college buildings, they were never any thing more 
than mere log-studies, temporarily thrown up, till better ones 
could be erected — and they are now in ruins. The Eev. Mr. 
Springer 2 from Princeton College was at the head of it; and 
under his direction the institution flourished. Pie was a i)res- 
byterian divine of great merit. * * * After him several 
persons had the charge of the Seminary, but it flourished less, 
and Anally became quite neglected — in which state it has been 
for several years past. Though called a College in the Statute 
Book, yet no regular system of College education was ever 
established and no degrees were ever conferred. The famous 
Robert Goodloe Harper^ was once a student, an*^ afterwards 
an assistant instructor here, i)ursuing at the same time the 
study of the law. The Village has seven stores and three tav- 
erns. Its appearance is not at all flourishing; and it is said 
to have been decaying, ever since the new judiciary arrange- 
ment, by which the courts were removed to Abbeville. The 
present town has been built anew since the war: the old town 
of Ninety Six (as it used to be called) having been destroyed 
by the British. 

March 14. Met with my old neighbor and fellow voyager J. 
ivTorth of Farmington. Pleasant, facetious and good humored 

' Robert Wright, Senator 1801-1806, member of Congress 1810-1817, 1821-1823. 

2 Eev. John Spi-inger, Princeton 1775, tutor at Princeton 1775-1777, died 1798. 

' Robert Goodloe Harper (1765-1825), Federalist member of Congress from South Caro- 
lina 1795-1801, is perliaps best linown by his "Observations on tlie dispute between the 
TTnited States and France," printed in 1797. He was a Senator from Maryland from 1816 
to 1821. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 885 

as usual. I find that a plaiu looking man whom I used to 
notice in tlieState House at Columbia, and of whom I made a 
memorandum in my journal of Nov. 23rd is a Col. Barkley 
Martin of a neighborhood just below here. Mr. L. assures me 
that he is an excellent man and a worthy member of the Bap- 
tist Church : and that his objection to voting the Chaplain a 
salary must have been an objection of religious principle, and 
not of infidelity, as I at the time supposed it might be. I 
recollect however, to have afterwards noticed the same man, 
uniformly attending the same Chaplain's preaching. 

March 15. Finished the 1st vol. Blackstone, with Chris- 
tian's notes. — The people about here talk a great deal about 
the famous Judge Burke,^ who used to attend the Superior 
Court in Cambridge. He must by accounts have been a man 
of most singular humor: He was thought to be a good Judge 
of law, but so fond of fun, as to forget very often the awfulness 
of the place which he tilled and turn the whole proceedings 
into a farce. He once pronounced sentence of death on a cul- 
prit and added at the close of it, " hut clonH mind^ my good fel- 
low, Ws only what we've all got to come to^ " I hojte, said one 
of the laicyers, your honor donH mean that we've all got to be 
hu7ig." "^o," replied the Judge, " but ive're all got to die, and 
it doesuH mahe much difference hoiv.''^ Somebody in a company 
where he was present was eulogizing some of the Carolina law 
characters. Aye, says Burke, in his dry Irish way, Ye may 
taUc us much as ye plaise of your Pinchney^s for an argument 
and your Watieses for a special plea in bar; but fore G-d, 
for a Roman gladiator armed at all points, give me Pierpont 
Edwards. He was fond of having lawyers come directly to 
the point and meet it with good common sense; and could not 
endure a parade of words about nothing, nor had he patience 
to listen to those subtle reasonings of some lawyers, which 
only seem to embarrass the jury, and render an intricate case 
additionally intricate. Gen. C. C. Pinckuey^ had been argu- 
ing before him a h)ng time one day, when judge B. suddenly 
started from his seat, tucked up his robe, took his hat, and 
left the bench. The lawyer of course ceased, as usual in such 
cases. '' Go on " Gen. Pinchiey, go on, says the Judge, you love 

' iEdanns Burke (1743-1802) an Irisliman, member of Congi-oss, 1789-1791, -n-as a common 
liiw judge from 1778 to 1799, and an equity Judge from 1799 to 1802. Jlia pamphlet against 
the Cincinnati is famous. 

■^Charles Coteswortli Pinckney (1746-1825), famous as envoy to France, 1796-1800, and 
as Federalist candidate lor the Vice-Presidency in 1800 and for the Presidency in 1804 
a,nd 1808. 



886 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

to hear yourself talk,. MeanivMle^ III go out., and tale a, 

and a peep at the CameV\ (a camel was at that moment exhib- 
iting for a show, in front of the Court House, among the peo- 
ple). Hence, ^'■lyeepinij at the cameV\ is to this day a bye word 
among the Carolina lawyers, for (joing out on any occasion. — 
He was a great enemy to everything like pomp, and though he 
would sometimes like the other Judges submit to be attended 
by a guard of constables, yet he was very apt to turn the 
thing into ridicule. Being once on the circuit and about to 
ride from one court to another, he was solicited by a company 
of horse that was out for exercise, to accept of them for an 
escort. After some excuses he consented. By the time he 
was ready it began to rain. Among the back country people, 
especially those who dont own a great coat it is not uncommon 
to wear a blanket and they sometimes cut a hole in the middle 
of it and put their head through for the sake of l)etter protec- 
tion from the rain. Burke in his tours among them, had seen 
this contrivance, and resolving on merriment, j)rocured him a 
blanket and fixed in the same manner. The cavalry drew up 
at his door, received their charge and set off" amidst an intol- 
erable shower of rain, escorting towards the next county a 
thing which looked more like a Catawba Indian or even a 
baboon than a man of state. Mr. Burke was on very intimate 
terms with his brother Irishman, the Hon. O'brien Smith of the 
present Congress, and used often when going on the circuit, 
to send to Mr. Smith for a horse to ride. Smith in pleasantry 
once sent him a valuable Jack-ass ; not dreaming however that 
the Judge would make use of it. It was all very well how- 
ever. The Judge mounted his Jack and began the circuit, 
but before he proceeded far, bargained him away for a horse 
of not one third the value. After three or four weeks, he came 
home from court, and sent home his neighbor Smith's horse 
without any explanation. Smith soon came over to see what 
had become of his favorite Jack. The Judge's first salutation 
was: 'Fore G-d, Mr. Smith, I reckon you'll learn, by next 
court time, not to send your Judge an ass to ride upon. A 
new court district was once established near the upper part of 
the State in a wild region, and it fell to Judge Burke to attend 
the first court. Not finding the way easily, as he drew near 
to the place, he asked a man to get into his chair with him 
and show him: — As the request was rather too peremptory to 
suit the free sj)irits of the mountaineers, the fellow saucily 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 887 

refused. But 'fore (l-d. said Burke, then we'll see whether 
the public interest must suffer for want of a pilot to the Judge, 
and springing out withall, he grappled the fellow neck and 
heels, laid him in his chair and forced him to point out the 
way. When he returned he was asked by a brother Judge 
how he liked the new county. Aye, says he, you sent me to 
administer justice, not among- citizens but among beasts of 
prey. Their glaring eyeballs looked like vengeance and 'fore 
G — it wasn't any respect for their Judge that prevented them 
from coming at him; but it was this right hand, that ensured 
his safety. * * * 

Thurs. April 4^ * * * Witnessed a little piece of the 
Carolina policy in road and bridge matters. As long- ago as 
my first coming to Cambridge, and I don't know how much 
longer, ^^ The Eepalrinri of the Bridfje over Henley Creelc^^ was 
in an advertisement offered '' to be let to the lowest Mddery 
Five or six planks would have made it passable, yet it remained 
unrepaired and impassable till yesterday, although on the 
public road to Augusta, and the creek being inconvenient for 
fording. * * * 

April 10. This being " tax daif, a multitude of people flocked 
into the village to pay their state taxes and also the direct tax 
of the U. S. which was laid by President Adams' Administra- 
tion,^ but which was never before collected in this State. I 
made particular enquiries about the reason of the delay, and 
could not learn that it was owing to any public aversion to 
the payment, but to several accidental circumstances, such as 
the death of some, and the failure of other officers concerned 
in the collection. This tax is laid on negro slaves as well as 
other objects. While we were at the tea table conversing 
about it, Mr. Lilly,- pointing to a boy that was waiting on the 
tables, said, " There'' s a fellow that escaped this tax, by not being 
born so lony ago as tchen it ivas ?rt?V7." * * * 

Sat. April JJ5. * * * Had the curiosity to attend Mag- 
istrate's Court, as they are called, held at the Tavern of Scpure 
Lipscomb. They are usually held once a mouth, when all the 
causes that have occurred are brought together and decided. 
The justice and his constable prepared the pi^oceedings, and 
both attend court. The parties come forward and state their 
own case, producing evidence to substantiate it. The justice 

I Act of July 14, 1798. 

" A Bai)tiat minister with whom Mr. Hooker lived while at Cambridge. 



,S88 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

then (leteriiiiues as lie thinks equitable aud right. There is 
very little form or ceremony about it, and attorneys never 
appear for the parties. * * * 

Tues. April 29. Have noticed since my residence among- the 
Carolinians, a great many iiecnliarities of phrase and pronun- 
ciation. Some of them are vulgarisms and some being a char- 
acteristic of their pursuits and manners are proper enough, 
and convey an idea with force. Thus sportsmen and from 
them the i^eople at large have introduced in common use the 
word distance in form of an active verb. Example I shall wait 

for you only half an hour. Now return speedily; or, by 

you'll be distam^d. The low country abounding with swamps^ 
which often jirove embarrassing to travellers, it has become 
common to say of one who has got into difficulty of any hind, 
He has got s>camp\L Tlie Navigation term " clear ouf^ is com- 
mon a nd as often used, very expressive. Thus Mrs. L. the other 
day finding some of the negro children who had come into the 
piazza to play with the others, making an intolerable disturb- 
ance, stepped to the door and peremptorily ordered all hands to 
^'- clear oiity The little negroes understood the commands and 
knew that their playthings were all to be removed and their 
departure to be tiual. Waggoners speak of being stalled, when 
their wheels have got into a mud-hole too fast for their horses 
to extricate the load : and hence the term is sometimes ai)plied 
to other cases, as for example to a school-boy, who is perplexed 
by an intricate question in arithmetic. To tote a thing means 
to carry it on the head : but it is sometimes applied to any lifting. 
Carry a horse to water is vulgarly used for lead him to water. 
Crap for crop. Even sensible men speak of their crap of cotton 
and crap of tobacco. Hauling wood and hauling fodder &c. is 
in general use for getting or umggoning wood &c. Tackey is 
universally ai)plied to a mean horse. Hy filly is meant a mare — 
more especially a young one. Cabin is used for a log house or 
any poor mansion. Baly for really. So help me is an expres- 
sion put by those who are not quite profane enough to annex 
the name of Deity, at the end of an affirmation which they wish 
to strengthen. The use of the word lilie is peculiar: Eg he 
acts just like he would if he were crazy. Instead of saying, I 
rode a little farther, the Carolinian says, I rode a piece farther. 
Tools used for a superlative — Eg. What a fine girl Miss W. is! 
She is too handsome. Clever for likely, learned, able, excellent. 
Mighty is in everybody's mouth, fovvery — ulao 2)ou- erf ul for hig 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 889 

or great. Very badly is often used for very much : for wliicli 
however, there is the authority of Horace : " CujHs misere 
ahire ". I reckon for I helieve. Cotch for caught is very coin- 
mou. Fotch for fetch is in some use. Yon for yonder. Good 
man is often used for man of i)roperty, even without liuiitini;- 
the meaning* to characteristic punctuality, "^iZ/ hut^'' is a 
favourite expression for almost Eg. We all but turned over. 
Did the horse throw him? All but. "J. /tea^j" is very awk- 
wardly used in adverbial form for in a great degree. Thus: 
He likes it a heap, — "Lie doini''^ is used for going to bed or 
retiring, and seems to be considered as a more refined i)hrase. 
The common introductory address to a Stranger is Stranger. 
Eg. Stranger, will you tell me which of these roads leads to 
Abbeville? For a term of calling, " Jsay" is usual. Thus, "J 
say! Mr. H. are you going to the Post Office f " When one calls 
loudly to another, the interjection O, is often inserted. Eg. 
Edmund ! Edmuud ! O, Edmund ! On the other hand, there 
are several expressions current among New Euglanders, which 
appear equally odd to Carolinians : Such as a stoop for Sbpiazzaj 
ii stub for a stump: a Jceow for a cow: choars for little taslcs. 
Guess is a word, when used for believe, so confessedly Yankee, 
fied (as the Carolinians pretend) as to be made one principal 
criterion for determining who is a New Englander. * * * 

Sat. May 23. * * *■ Capt, L. ^ was once a more public 
character than he is now, having been a member of the Legis- 
lature during the period which preceded the great change in 
politics throughout the Union. I suppose he was one of those 
influential citizens who were attached to Eobert G. Harper,^ 
and who did not afterwards join in the public denunciations 
against him. All who did not thus join were considered Fed- 
eralists incorrigable — and to this day, in all electioneering cam- 
paigns throughout the old District of Ninety Six which Mr. 
Harper represented in Congress, there is no weapon with which 
a candidate can be more successfully annoyed by his opponent, 
than the public exhibition of him as " o»e of Rarper\s men.''' A 
mere Federalist is a harmless creature, com])ared with a Har- 
perian Federalist. 

[After this the writer was ill about a month.] 

Wedn. July 2nd. * * * Great preparations are making 
for the celebration of Independence. The married gentlemen 

1 Livingston. 2 See note on p. 884. 



890 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

are to give a public dinner in the fields. I had quite a cere- 
monious invitation conveyed to nie in a letter of the following 
form and address: 

Mr. Hooker — Presid't of the 

Cambriflge Association College. 

The Managers of a Barbacne given by the citizens of Cambridge and its 

vicinity, present their compliments to Mr. Hooker — Keqnestiug him to 

favor them with his company on the fonrth at Cambridge to participate 

of said Barbacne with sd citizens in commemoration of the fonrth of July. 

James Coleman. 

Joseph Griffin. 

Toliver Bostick. 

William A. Douglass. )> Managers. 

Rich'^ Kingold. 

Tho« B. Waller. 

James Bullock. 

Frid. July 4. A very fine morning. We began the celebra- 
tion of Independence, in the Carolina way, this morning, by 
participating in aflotcim/ howl of Egg-Knogg, which Mrs L. 
had prepared : and soon after breakfast returned to the village, 
where, early in the day a large concourse of people was col- 
lected. About 11 o'c the three companies of cavalry, artillery 
and Infantry were arranged and exercised by Brigade Major 
Butler, and reviewed by Maj. Gen. Butler, of Edgefield.^ He 
appears pretty well on horseback, but exhibits far less dignity 
on foot. His dress is very plain : and his appearance through- 
out is more like that of an old Warrior (as I suppose he is) 
than of a mere parade officer. His rank in the militia is very 
high having under his command half the militia of the State, 
of which there are nine or ten brigades. He is at the same 
time a member of Congress. I did not however, at the dinner, 
when I was introduced to him, perceive in his honor any strik- 
ing indications of greatness. He seems to be a man of sense 
and information, but not much polished and improved by 
education. The dinner was in a little thicket not far from the 
village, and consisted chiefly of roast beef and pork — cooked 
over tires that were kindled in a long trench dug in the ground, 
about a foot deep. About 200 dined together. The tables 
were served by negro slaves under the superintendence of the 
managers. What an incongruity! An Independence dinner 
for freemen and slaves to wait upon them. I couldn't keep 
the thought out of my mind, the whole time I was there feast- 
ing. Everything was well conducted except the toasts, the 



' William Butler (1759-1821), major-general, member of Congress 1801-1813. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 891 

management of which was ridiculous enougli. No notice was 
given when they were commenced, aud they were drank by 
about a dozen at the head of the table, while the rest of the 
company were, some of them, eating, others talking and laugh- 
ing and others sauntering about, without knowing of any 
toasts being drank, except by the sound of the cannon. Squire 
Lipscomb presided; but was too modest and inexperienced 
to keep the (company attentive to what was going on. There 
ai)peared to be no partyism in any thing connected with the 
celebration. * * * 

Frid. Aug. 1. Fine weather, as usual of late. Called in as 
I often do, and had some pleasant chat with Oapt. Gowdy. 
He is an old inhabitant here and almost the only native citizen 
in the village or its neighborliood. He speaks highly of Col. 
Cruger' the British Commander here while the fort was in the 
possession of the enemy. Says he was a finished gentleman 
in all his conduct and treated the inhabitants with much 
civility, punishing his men for abuses committed and restoring 
to the owners plundered property. Some of his under officers 
were also civil — and all of them behaved with a gentleness 
that was much to their credit, when couipared with the inhu- 
man rapacity of the tory inhabitants. The siege of jSTinety 
Six^ is a favorite topic with the people in this vicinity. It is a 
pleasure to witness the animation that sparkles in their coun- 
tenances, when in compliance with my request, they narrate 
the minute incidents of those trying times. Some of the strik- 
ing particulars are these — the blockading of the British troops 
in the fort — the extension of a mine under the British works — 
the sallying out of a British force which in spite of a desperate 
resistance drove the (.'arolinians from the mine and surprised 
unawares the heroic fellows that were almost ready, under 
ground, to blow the whole garrison to destruction — the march- 
ing up of a pick'd company of valiants to haul down with 
hooks the bags of sand Avhich lay on the top of the entrench- 
ment, while muskets were incessantly blazing from behind 
them — the act of a courageous tory who notwithstanding the 
surrounding crowd of besiegers, galloped through and gained 
admittance at the gate,' with advices of an approaching 
reinforcement, 

8at. Aug. 16. Warm but pleasant. Farenheit's Therm. 85°. 
Spent the P. M. at Capt. Gowdy's in examining the old archives 

' Col. John Harris Cruger, loyalist commander at Ninety- six. ^In June, 1781. 



892 AMERICAN HISTORICAL AS.^OCIATION. 

of Cambridge College. Found them quite interesting. Some of 
the first cliaracters in the State were among tlie Trustees : but 
it seems tliere used to be great difficulty in getting the Board 
together; and also in collecting the monies subscribed. The 
institution was founded soon after the war, reed a college char- 
ter in 1785 — began to decline about 80 or 00 and to have fallen 
into almost total neglect about 1705 or C. Great sums were 
subscribed which were never paid. One or two of the sub- 
scriptions were one hundred guineas. Mr. Dessaussure of 
Charleston' appears to have made great exertions in favor 
of the Seminary. * * * 

TiLes. ISept. ^>. * * * The people about here begin to feel 
quite interested in the Congressional election. Much election- 
eering is often used on these occasions. The following will 
suffice to shew what means are sometimes used and what kind 
of people the electors must (in considerable numbers) be, since 
such reports are cai)able of gaining credit. Gen. Casey^ of 
Newbury, who represents this District is an old soldier, and a 
respectable, though not a great man. A report is now circu- 
lating that he is in favor of a speedy and universal emancipa- 
tion of the slaves — that a bill for that purpose was rejected in 
Congress at the last Session by only a small majority, and that 
it is all-important for slave holders therefore to withhold sup- 
port from any man who is friendly to emancipation. A story 
was some years since circulated and believed that Mr, Hunter 
wished for a law obliging every man wiio owned fewer than 8 
or 10 slaves and a certain quantity of land to give them uj) to 
those who had more. At the same time it was Avell known that 
Mr, Hunter ^ had not that number. Yet he lost his election and 
Robert G. Harper was sent in his place. * * * 

Sept. 6th. * * * Muster day for the three militia comija- 
nies: of course much company and noise in the village. Elec- 
tioneering for Cong, and the State Legislature is going on 
rapidly in this district. A person told me he had seen letters 
from a person to several voters, announcing himself a candidate, 
and soliciting their patronage and influence. To such a height 
does the fondness for office and power rise. Malicious state- 
ments and letters to the injury of Col. Colhoun and Ezek. Col- 
houn are now in circulation- Col. C. is an elderly gentleman 

1 Henry William De Saussure (1763-1839), afterwards a chancellor from 1808 to 1837, and 
famous in that capacity. 

2 Levi Casey, member of Congress 1803-1807. 

5 John Hunter, member of Congress 1792-1795, Senator 1797-1798. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 893 

of much respectability and an elder in the Presbyterian Church 
near Vienna — Now in the State Senate, but a candidate for 
Cong, against Gen. Casey and Maj. Elmore. I hear a very 
good account given of the Colboun family generally, as being 
firm friends to religion and good order. J. C. Calhoun' is a 
nephew of this Col. C. and son to old Patrick Calhoun another 
Presbyterian elder. The Eev. Mr. WaddeF is his brother in 
law — Indeed he is surrounded by religious relations, who had 
always calculated him for a minister and sent him to Yale 
College with that view. * * * 

[On Sej)tember 15, 1806, the diarist set out with his friend the Rev. Mr. 
Lilly for a tour of seventeen days, from (Cambridge np into the Carolina 
mountaiua and back.] 

Tues. Sept. 16. * * * We stopped at Old Mrs. Maxwell's 
a little beyond : * * * The family are of the most respecta- 
ble class. Irish origin. Quite religious and of the Presbyte- 
rian denomination. House and furniture old and plain. 
Everything exhibits the appearance of order and industry. 
More books than usual on the shelves and these mostly reli- 
gious. To this family belonged the Hon. Robert Maxwell, 
once a State Senator and afterwards High Sheriff of Wash- 
ington District; who was basely assassinated a few years since 
by some of his ruffian enemies. The instigator, if not the 
principal agent in the horrid deed was a Dr. Kennedy of Geor- 
gia, brother to the Kennedy who married Miss Baldwin of 
New Haven. He was apprehended and imprisoned for trial, 
but broke jail and escaped, was taken again, but rescued by a 
band of desperadoes. Mrs. Maxwell, his mother, seems to be 
much affected in speaking of the circumstances. * * * 

Thnrs. Sept. 18. * * * Thispartof thestate,^is justnow 
in a state of some agitation, on account of the approaching elec- 
tions. It is curious to see how high is the popular tone on all 
such subjects. — A stranger would be led to think the fate of 
the United States depended on the choice which these people 
are about to make of Capt. Earle, or Col. Alston,^ or Dr. Hun- 
ter for a Congressman, neither of whom, nor the people who 
vote for them, are probably valued a straiv at the seat of gov- 

' John C. Calhoun was a college contemporary of Hooker's, gradnating in the class above 
him (1804). There is, nnfortimately, no other reference to him in the ilinry. Ilia uncle, 
Col. Joseph Calhoun, was a member of Congress from 1807 to 1811. 

'IJev. Moses Waddell prepared Calhoun for college. 

■'' Near Pickensville. 

■•IClias Earle had repre.sented this district in the Ninth Congres.i (1805-1807). Lemuel 
J. Alston, successful in this canvass, represented it in the Tenth. 



894 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

ernmeut. We met with one of them this forenoon, at a sirring 
where we stopped to drink, and suspecting from his look and 
demeanor that he was some candidate for public favor, on an 
electioneeriug- campaign, soon discovered that his name is 
Earle. He was very civil in recommending to us what parts 
of the mountain to visit as most interesting and informing us 
where we could find accommodations, guides &c. From IJeid's 
we rode towards the mountains which for some time have been 
presenting to our view, their awful summits, in all the rude 
majesty of nature. We had not proceeded two miles, when we 
heard issuing from the thick woods that crowned the bank of 
Woolenoy river, the shrill-sounding voice of the mountain 
preacher. It was now the middle of the afternoon. The good 
people of Woolenoy Valley had assembled at their meeting 
house, for public worshii). We drew near and listened. Earely 
have I felt so pleasingly solemn emotions. The strangeness of 
the place — the shady gloom of the forest, heightened the con- 
trast with the delights of a beautiful sunny afternoon — tlie 
sacred silence of the scene, as though the oaks themselves 
were listening to the preacher — ^joined to a sort of veneration 
for the character of these, simple honest, inofteusive and I 
hope religious mountaineers, — all conspired to raise my tone of 
present feeling far above the usual standard. — We alighted 
and went in. Our entrance caused some interruj)tion. Sev- 
eral rose to give us seats — some offered to take our hats — 
and all stared at us. Mv. Lilly was recognized by some of the 
congregation. I heard their whispers. I can't think of his 
name said one — I've heard him speak, said another — Yes, 
rejoined a third, he's one of the first preachers in the country. 
I, on my part, wondered no less than they. The congregation 
was truly a novelty. I had heard of the simple manners of 
the mountain ])eople, but 1 had not expected to find simplicity 
itself out-simplified. Many folks, I am sure, would censure 
their appearance, as indecent. The women were mostly with- 
out stockings and shoes ; while a shirt and petticoat co)nposed 
their whole dress: but some, in addition to these, had (I sup- 
pose, by way of super fiuity and set-off) a handkerchief spread 
over their shoulders and a man's hat on the head. Their 
cloths however, as well as their persons, were, without excep- 
tion clean and neat. The appearance of the men was also 
remarkably simple: but it struck me less disagreeably than 
that of the women. They too were mostly barefooted, and, 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 895 

(to use a common pliraseology) in their shirt sleeves. The old 
adage, as is the. people, so is the priest, was here exemplified; 
for Mr. Adams was likewise in his shirt sleeves. The sermon 
being ended, the preacher, who had perhaps seen Mr. L. before 
or else knew him by his dress and demeanor, to be a clerical 
brother, — observed that he was rejoiced to see in the house 
one of his brethren, from a distance, and should be glad if he 
would come up into the pulpit and add a word of exhortation 
to the people. Every eye was turned towards my friend, with 
eager expectation, when he rose from his seat, and modestly 
declined, alledgiug, by way of excuse, the fatigue of his jour- 
ney. It pleased me much to see lying about the seats, a num- 
ber of school books, but particularly Webster's Spelling Books. 
I could not have supposed before that they had found their 
way into these remote and obscure regions. After meeting, 
we accepted of a cordial invitation from Mr. Adams the 
l)reacher to ride home with him; he having, with some of his 
neighbors, promised to be our guide, tomorrow, in ascending- 
Table Mountain. Crossing the Wooleuoy, a few rods from the 
Church, we rode along the valley, parallel with the mountain 
range, about four miles and reached the humble mansion of 
the preacher an hour before sunset. It is oa the most public 
road which leads through the valley — yet the road is very 
obscure, and the spot lonely. The house is a framed one — but 
has one story — comfortable size — furnished in a way and inhab- 
ited by a family exactly corresponding to the stile of the 
people, whose minister it belongs to. Our dinner was soon 
served up for us. It consisted of fresh pork and sweet pota- 
toes cut up and set on in a large tin pan, without any bread 
or sauce, or any accompaniment, except salt. A chest not 
higher than our knees served for a table: — The end of another 
chest served for a seat for our kind host; while my fellow trav- 
eller and myself occupied the only chairs in the room. Hav- 
ing taken no food since morning our dinner relished well. We 
ate very heartily, and I have rarely perhaps never, made a 
meal with more satisfaction. After prayers, we retired early 
to a coarse but comfortable bed, which was furnished with 
curtains of a coarse sort of gauze. 

Frid. Sept. 19. Mr. Adams is a young man of perhaps 
thirty-two — not much improved by information — nor much 
a('(]uainted with any books except the bible — but accustomed 
to hard labour for his subsistence. His wife appears also like a 



896 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

hard working woman — Both liowev^er, but especially tlie woman, 
are patient, obliging and hospitable to the last degree. They 
seem to estimate liighly religion and religious people : — and they 
say they live among a religious community. Their proximity 
to the western country has probably tinctured the religion of 
these mountaineers — who speak with animation of the wonders 
that have been done and are doing in Tennessee and the back 
parts of North Carolina. We yesterday fell in company with 
two preachers, who were about crossing the mountain to attend 
a great Camp Meeting on Pigeon river — and who were quite 
solicitous that we should extend our journey a little and go 
with them. * * * 

[The (liaiist and Mr. Lilly and Mr. Adams ascend Table Mountain, and 
return to the Woolenoy.] 

Sun. Sex)t. 21. * * * During the service a little event 
happened, such as I am fond of noting, as exhibiting traits in 
the manners and character of the people. Two candidates for 
public favor who were out on an electioneering tour, came into 
the church attended by two or three others. One was Col. 
Alston of whom I had heard much in these x)arts, and who was 
exerting all his energies to get a seat in Congress: the other 
was a kind of understrapper to him by the name of Toliver, wlio 
was so modest as not to ask for any thing higher than a seat in 
the State legislature. They were returning from a Barbacue 
which Alston had yesterday given to the people on twelve-mile- 
Creek, and it having been last night announced that he would 
attend church here the expectation of the mountaineers was 
of course excited: for of the various candidates, he was one in 
whose favor they were considerably prejudiced. When he came 
in, all was attention. Men, women and children gazed as at 
some strange sight. From the Colonel's demeanor, a superficial 
observer would suppose he really came thither to worship God : 
but an adept in the science of human nature, w^ould (if a 
Yankey) be apt to (jiig88 that he came to worship the people. 
He seemed to pay the strictest attention to the preacher, and 
to join fervently in the prayers; and after the hymn was read, 
he rose from his seat and joined in the singing; at which 
almost every other man in the house also rose, with an obsequi 
ousness that disgusted me. Just before dismissing his congre- 
gation, I could not but smile to hear Mr. Dowther give notice 
"that Old Fatlier Eoper's funeral sermon wcmld be preached" 
at a certain time and place. This plainness of speech is com- 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 897 

moil to the Mountaineers, who often call one another of the 
same age by their christian names, and those who are older by 
the friendly appellation of father, uncle, or aunt. — A curious 
farce was j^layed at the Church door after meeting-. The candi- 
dates had stationed themselves conveniently, and were now 
very busy in saluting every man in the crowd, taking care 
to call by name as many as possible, and putting themselves 
on the terms of old acquaintance. Col. Alstou was perfect 
master of the art, and played his game with so much adroit- 
ness as almost to persuade one that nobody could have a more 
cordial attachment to him, or feel a greater interest in his 
welfare: — but Toliver was much more awkward: and being 
necessitated to struggle against a more than ordinary share of 
clownish rusticity, he in attempting to be jiolite made most 
blundering work of it. Col Alston has seen Mr. Lilly formerly 
and was now quite exuberant in his attentions to him. Myself 
also he pretended to have seen at Cambridge — was overjoyed 
to meet with me now &c. &c. He might have seen me — per- 
haps passing in the street — or in some other situation ; but 
confident I am that he never spoke to me — nor do I recollect 
ever hearing of such a man till within a short time. I pre- 
sume it was merely a part of his electioneering system — or in 
l)lain terms a downright lie. His whole demeanor however 
was marked by such easy civility, as to gain the good will of 
all. He pressiugly invited us to extend our journey into the 
District of Greenville, and to make his house our home for a 
few days. * * * 

3Ion. ^ept. 22nd. * * * Approaching the village of Green- 
ville, we pass in view of Chancellor Thomson's^ beautiful seat — 
quite retired in the woods, about two miles from the Court 
House. Arrived at Col. Alston's about 12. His seat is with- 
out exception the most beautiful that I have seen in South 
Carolina. The mansion is on a commanding eminence which 
he calls Frospect HiU. Fronts the village of Greenville from 
which it is distant just six hundred yards; and to which there 
is a spacious and beautiful avenue leading formed by two 
rows of handsome sycamore trees j)lanted twenty four feet 
apart — the avenue being 15 rods Avide. In like manner another 
handsome avenue formed by cutting a passage through the 
woods leads from the north front of the house to the mountain 

■ Waddy Thoiiipsou, ar., a ,)ud<;o from 1805 to 1828, 

H. Doc. 353 57 



898 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

road, about quarter of a mile in lengtli. Tbe cultivated 
grouDds lie partly on the borders of tbe great avenue leading 
to the village and partly on the borders of Keedy river, south 
and west of the House. * * * Col. A. is as liberal in 
treating with liquors as any bod3\ perhaps, yet not extrava- 
gant. jSTot aiming to shew his liberality by having the wiue 
and brandy cover the table and floor in slops, nor leaving it 
standing about open, but on leaving the drinking room to go 
to dinner or elsewhere he carefully corks and sets up the 
decanter and bottles in the sideboard, himself. — After dinner, 
I took a pleasant walk to the village with Mr. Henderson, a 
young lawyer, who is half brother to Col. Alston. Intro- 
duced there to G. W. Earle Esq. the Clerk of the Court, and 
Capt. Cleveland, a merchant. The Court House is a decent 
two story building. The jail is three stories, large and hand- 
some. The situation and aspect of the village is quite pretty 
and rural: the street covered with green grass and handsome 
trees growing here and there — but there is a want of good 
houses — the buildings being mostly of logs. About six dwell- 
ing houses, two or three shops and some other little buildings. 
The place is thought by many to be as healthy as any part of 
the United States. Not a seat of much business. The courts 
sit but twice a year and often finish their session in two or 
three days. Only one attorney, and law business dull. One 
or two physicians in or near the village; but their practice is 
mainly at the Golden Grove, a fertile but unhealthy settlement 
ten miles below. One clergyman within six or seven miles 
who preaches at the Court House once in three or four weeks. 
On our return, at tea time, we found a young Mr. Cleveland 
from Tuguloo settlement in Pendleton, and several others who 
had met Col. Alston to consult about the Electioneering mat- 
ters. A social company spent the evening here. It was some- 
what amusing to hear the various conversation on such topics. 
From what I have heard I learn that the great objections relied 
on in the Electioneering war are that Hunter is so good a phy- 
sician that he can't be spared long enough to go to Congress — 
that Earle does not respect religion, for when he is on his elec- 
tioneering campaigns instead of going into the church he stays 
out in the Shade with such as choose to stay and drink with 
him. and that Alston is a federalist and in favor of a stamp 
act and too rich a man! Alston too lays great stress on the 
objection that the others are not Speakers — and he tells a 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 899 

story of their all three mounting a stump, and addressing a 
militia company a few days since at tlie request of the Captain 
who wished iiis soldiers to have an opportunity of judging 
on their respective merits. He at the same time repeats the 
S[)eeches made by them severally, taking care to represent the 
others in a manner comical enough. The fact is Alston is llip- 
])ant on every thing whether he understands it or not, — but 
unless he founds his seat in Congress on something better than 
Ids oratorical powers, he will have, I am sure, but little support 
from men of sense and discernment. * * * 

Wedn. Sept. :^i. * * * Henderson in the course of his 
pleasant chat related several anecdotes about his brother 
Alston's art in electioneering. Among other things he told me 
that the large family-bible which lies on the table in the keep- 
ing room was not bought till since he became a candidate for 
Congress, and was then got for the purpose of making a good 
impression on such as might call in. * * * 

TImrs. Sept. 25. * * * Passed the time in a pleasant and 
instructive way. The general' converses with ease and per- 
spicuity on all Congressional topics appears to possess much 
valuable information on the state of the country, and to be 
candid and independent — not a partisan, but acting from the 
result of his unbiased judgnient. He is liberal in his senti- 
ments — well versed in the knowledge of men and manners. 
Tall, stout, well built and of a military figure, quite grey and 
rather advanced in life. Perhaps sixty years old. He shewed 
me a tolerable likeness of himself, done in gold leaf by Amos 
Boolittle of New Haven — and several painted likenesses of his 
Congressional friends. He related also many interesting and 
pleasant anecdotes of Congress men and measures. He is well 
acquainted withDuane, the editor, of the Aurora; and thinks 
him a man of the most extensive information he ever knew. 
He says that with those whom he knows j^erfectly, he is very 
intimate, but quite reserved in talking to one whose name and 
character he does not well know. Those well acquainted with 
Duane often go to him for information on Congressional topics 
and he is never at a loss to explain to them any point or else 
direct them to some book that will i)lace the subject in a clear 
view. Duane has always made it an object to know and he 
does perfectly well know the name, character and residence of 
every man in the United States who is anything of a public 
man, andean give you almost any information respecting them. 

J Gen. Thomas Moore, member of Congress 1801-1813, 1815-1817. 



900 AMERICAN HISTOEICAL ASSOCIATION. 

Gen. M. speaks highly of J. C. Smith of Couii. as a candid, 
well informed and great statesman and of Griswold as a finan- 
cier — Mr Bidwell and Mr. liandolph also he considers men of 
talents. * * *' 

Sat. Sept. 27. * * * We arrived at Greenville abont 9 
and after breakfast, rode to Pickeusville 13 miles in company 
with Col. Alston and a young Mr. Lester. Forded the river 
Saluda in our way become by this time, a wide, but shallow, 
stream interrupted by rocks and considerably rapid. Arrived 
about noon. Quite a public day there. A regiment of cav- 
alry paraded in the woods, made a martial appearance, but 
there was a coarseness and rusticity about them, character- 
istic of the country they inhabit. It is said the troops were 
called out iu subserviency to electioneering purposes. Sev- 
eral hundreds of i)eople came together: the houses and streets 
were thronged. The three candidates for Congress, Alston, 
Ilunter and Earle were present electioneering- with all their 
might — distributing whiskey, giving dinners, talking, and 
haranguing, their friends at tlie same time making similar 
exertions for them. Besides these, there was a number of 
Candidates for the Assembly. It was a singular scene of 
noise, blab and confusion. I placed myself on a flight of stairs 
where I could have a good view of the multitude, and there 
stood for some time an astonished spectator of a scene, the 
resemblance of which I had never before witnessed: a scene, 
ludicrous indeed when superficially observed, but a scene highly 
alarming, when viewed by one who considers at the same time 
what inroads are made u^ion the sacred right of suffrage. 
Ilandbills containing accusation's of federalism against one, of 
abuse of public trust against another — of fraudulent specula- 
tions against a third — and numerous reports of a slanderous 
and scurrilous nature were freely circulated. Much drinking, 
swearing, cursing and threatening — but I saw no fighting. 
The minds of uninformed people were much agitated — and 
many well-meaning people were made to believe the national 
welfare was at stake and would be determined by the issue of 
this back-woods election. Dr. Hunter conducted with most 
dignity, or rather with the least indignity on this disgraceful 
occasion — confining himself to a room iu the tavern, and not 
mixing Avith the multitude in the street — Alston fought for 
proselytes and adherents in the street; but took them into the 

' Jolin Cotton Smith, Eoger Griswold, Barnabas Bidwell, John Kandolph. See previous 
notes. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 901 

bar-room to treat tliein but Earle icho loved the i)eo][)le more 
than any of them, had his grog^ beuch iu the middle of the 
street and presided over the whiskey jugs himself. Stauding 
behind it like a shop boy behind his counter, and dealing out 
to any one who would honor him so much as to come up and 
partake of his UheraUty. 

Earle is the present member. I wish it were possible for 
Dana^ to see him in his present capacity, that he might g:ive 
him a true send off at the seat of government, and sure I am 
that his honor Capt. Earle would have hereafter very little 
ambition to shew his head in Congress Hall. I was introduced 
to a number of Strangers on this occasion — among the rest to 
Chancellor Thomson and Mr. Andrew Pickens. The Chan- 
cellor is a sleek, beauish young man of about thirty — whose 
dress and general appearance as illy accorded with my notions 
of a Judge's gravity as the active part which he was taking 
in this electioneering squabble accorded with my notions of a 
Judge's impartiality. He treated me very politely and invited 
me to visit him at his house. Mr. Pickens is a worthy young 
gentleman of about twenty-six, son to old Gen. Pickens^ who 
figured in the revolution. He graduated at E. I. College and 
has lately been admitted to the bar. He is respectable, well 
informed, has the character of being sternly virtuous, and 
upright — and is a man of abilities — but his mien is rather 
authoritative — and he is so independent in opinion as to 
appear somewhat dogmatic. I was gratified to meet with at 
least one man who came hither not to gull nor to be gulled, but 
like myself to observe mankind— and who could so readily 
and so feelingly deplore the abuses of freedom which it is 
becoming so common to commit. Towards night I left this 
scene of clamor and confusion and disgrace, whicli seemed 
likely to continue through the night, and rode nine or ten 
miles on my way to Pendleton. Very few houses on this road, 
and the land nnpromising in appearance. Found good accom- 
odations, at the house of Mr. Johnson, where I again met with 
Mr. Pickens. My host proved to be a worthy young man and 
in his and Mr. P.'s company I spent the evening agreeably. 

Sun. Sept. 3Sth. * * * Eode on to Pendleton Court 
House before breakfast, leaving Mr. P. behind, having prom- 

• Samuel W. Dana (1760-1830) member of Congress from Conneoticnt. 

= General Andrew Pickens (1739-1817) was conspicuous for his services in the southern 
campaigns of the revolution. His son, Andrew Pickens, who was graduated at Khodo 
Island College in 1801, was governor of Sonlh Cnrolina, 1816 to 1818. 



902 AMERICAN HISRTOICAL ASSOCIATION. 

ised to meet him again at chiircli today aud tlieuce accompany 
him home: for he had invited me to spend two or three days 
with him. Tendletou village is pleasantly scattered over a 
cluster of little stony hills, aud is laid out in four squares — 
has ten or twelve good houses (some of which are large and 
handsome) a strong stone goal, and an old Gonrt House. 
* * * Mr. P. introduced me to his consort an accomplished 
young lady who is a step daughter of the Eev. Mr. M'Elheny : — 
and agreeably to my engagement, I accompanied them home. 
They live in the old family mansion — the general his father 
having removed to a farm at the foot of the mountains 15 or 20 
miles distant. The house stands on a high and prominent 
bank of the river Seneca, w'' after coming boldly up to the 
foot of the hill at the end of the house, turns suddenly back, 
and then circuiting round about half a mile in front of the 
house forms a large and beautiful tract of fertile low grounds 
in full view. It was on this spot of intervale, that the famous 
treaty of Hopewell was formerly made between Gen. Pickens 
on the part of the State, and the powerful tribe of Cherokee 
Indians,' — The house is two stories high— has an oldish appear- 
ance—furniture decent not elegant— table well furnished — Mr. 
P. asks a blessing at table (sitting) with much decency— a 
practice more common than I feared it was for a considerable 
time after my coming into Carolina. I observe it in many 
families of respectability in the upper country — even in those 
where no particular pretensions to religion are made. * * * 
Man. Sept. J29. * * * After breakfast Mrs. Pickens enter- 
tained me with a nuniber of tine turns on her pianoforte, 
accompaiued by her voice. It was a species of entertainment 
that T had little expected to find among the unrefined people 
of the upper country, and therefore the pleasure was doubly 
exipiisite. Mrs. P. informs me there are two piano's besides her 
own, in l*endleton. After this, rode with Mr. P. into his low 
grounds, and saw a beautiful meadow of red grass and white 
clover which every year affords him a great quantity of hay. 
About six acres of it. It is the only meadows I have seen 
in South Carolina. He is much like a New P^ngland farmer in 
having a large barn filled with hay and grain— in working 
oxen, in cultivating apple-trees, and he says he intends to get 
still more into that way, and to be less intent on cotton and 
other money-making crops. * * * 

' Treaty of November 28, 1785, negotiated for tlie United States by Pickens and tliree 
otliers. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 903 

Wedn. Oct. 1, 1806. * * * i came liome [to Cambridge] 
in excellent health aud with a flue stock of good spirits — and 
I brought with me some corrected notions of the Mountain 
people, who have not unfrequently been represented as intol- 
erably savage in their manners — I have met with as iDleasing 
instances of genuine politeness and courtesy and behavior 
among them as in any country parts of the State: and I have 
reason to believe the proportion of well bred peoi)le near the 
mountains is as great as any where else. * * * 

Wedn. Dec. 31. Met with 2 or 3 Kentucky horse drovers in 
the village and being anxious to learn the feelings of that class 
of people respecting Col. Burr's projects in the west, I easily 
scraped a sort of Yankey acquaintance with them. One of 
them who was just from Frankfort where some of the opera- 
tions have lately undergone public scrutiny told me he thought 
Burr a d — d good fellow, and had many friends. Once said he 
1 used to think him proud, but I am much disappointed aud 
find him a clever, affable good natured fellow. * * * 

[Having been called to a tutorship in the South Carolina College at 
Columbia, Hooker left Cambridge March 3, 1807, aud on March 6 began 
hia service as tutor.] 

.TOUENAL SO. 4. 

Sat. April 18th [1807]. * * * The Ct. adjourned about 
^ past 10. It appears to me that courts here are in a much 
greater habit of expediting business than in Conn: 2 juries 
being kept by here, that as soon as one case is submitted to 
one jury, and they have retired, another may be immediately 
begun with another jury. Sometimes the latter jury goes out 
before the other comes in: when the Judge improves the time 
in hearing motions and doing that kind of business which may 
be done without a jury. — Judge Trezevant^ who held this court 
is extremely industrious and indefatigable. — He appears to be 
about 30 or 7 years old is very thin and reduced, low in health 
and been in a consumptive, declining way several years. Still 
he goes into court at 9 in the Morn'g, and sits frequently till 8 
or 9 in the evening without leaving his seat more than once 
throughout the day: once this week and only once he dis- 
charged the court about an hour and half for dinner. — He is 
very rigid in adhering to the rules of Court and the general 
rules of law and will by no means vary from them without the 

I Lewis C. Trezevant (1770-1808) judge from 1800 to 1808. 



904 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

most extraordinary and forcible reasons : very precise too about 
order, not suffering any the least unnecessary noise: and often 
reprimanding the sheriff" if be does not see order kept and 
decorum observed. His charges to the Jury are very short, 
clear and illustrative and usually given with an appearance of 
great impartiality. He is sometimes displeasing by being so 
authoritative: frequently stopping the attorneys and making 
them sit down or take a different course of argument. * * * 
iSat. July 4th. * * * The exercises [in the college chapel] 
were the singing of one Ode, one psalm tune and 1 National 
song, a Prayer by President Maxcy^ and an oration by 
myself, — and they took up about an hour and half. — After 
meeting the several dining parties retired to their several 
retreats. A social party of between 20 and 30 citizens dined 
at Mr. Chapman's:— amongst whom were Col. Taylor, The 
Intendant and other town officers, the Pres. Profrs and 
Tutors of the College and several State officers, together 
with the sheriff" and clerk of the District. Much harmony and 
good humor prevailed; The toasts were moral, patriotic, and 
free from party spirit. — There was one singular circumstance 
I observed in making out the toasts which might seem to 
denote an inconsistency in the republicanism of some people. 
The Hon. J. Taylor (a Mem. of Congress) The Treasurer and 
Surveyor General of the State together with myself were 
appointed a Committee by the Pres. of the Board to draw up 
a sett of Toasts. We all of us proposed such as occurred to 
us; and I after proposing several which were accepted, sug- 
gested the following viz : — "The principles of rational liberty — 
May the blissful period ere long arrive when they shall prevail 
throughout the habitable globe." I, in proposing it, had in 
view the other nations of tlie world in general, without once 
recollecting the circumstance of slavery in our own country. 
Taylor took it up and looking it over a little seemed at first to 
find no fault, but all at once spoke out; "O this will never do! 
Why 'twill include our cursed black ones," or words to that 
eff'ect. I replied "Really I did not think of those in making 
out the sentiment. However I suppose there is none of us 
but would wish it to extend even to them at some period or 
other." Here all paused a little: When the Sur. Gen. said "1 
hope it may not be till we are gone." Says I, Well if the 



' Jonathan Maxcy ; see note 5 on p. 847. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 905 

"words '^ ere long'" are objectiouable we can omit tliem and sub- 
stitute others. Taylor said the toast woukl not be an accepta- 
ble one at the Table, so we concluded to drop it. * * * 

Mon. July 6th. Yery hot. — News arrived last night of the 
insolent attack of the Britisli frigate Leopard upon our Frig- 
ate Chesapeake.^ Today the minds of people are greatly 
roused and Col. Hampton has been about proposing to have a 
meeting of the citizens on Wedn. to enter into some resolu- 
tions on the subject. * * * 

Wedn. July 8th. Excessively hot. — A meeting of the citizens 
of Columbia and some from Grauby assembled at the State 
House at 12 o'clock to consider the subject of a late British 
aggression. But though a pretty large number flocked in at 
first, there appeared to be a great degree of coolness and indif- 
ference, considering the serious nature of the subject; for 
some soon went out before the business progressed and a great 
many before it was finished ; and little or nothing was said by 
anybody. Mr. Stark went up into the Speaker's desk and 
informed the peojde of the subject of the meeting and nomi- 
nated Col. Taylor Chairman. Maj. Clifton was then nom^'^'i 
Secy when after waiting a long time to get ink and paper, Mr. 
Stark read the account of the Chesapeake and Leopard from 
the Charleston Courier and then having made a very short 
comment, nominated Mr. Wade Hampton, Mr. Nott^ and Mr. 
Thos Taylor a Committee to draw up a sett of resolutions 
expressive of the sense of the meeting, and also an address to 
to the Pres. of the U. S. A. * * * 

Sat. July 11th. * * * Attended the town meeting at 11 
o'clock where several resolutions were reported by the Com- 
mittee and agreed to by the citizens after some debate. There 
appeared to be more feeling and interest than in the last 
meeting. * * * 

Sun. August 9th. * * * Col. H. [Hampton] is now very 
open in favor of what he calls "Hamilton's System"; viz an 
energetic system. A large navy, display of power and conquest. 
True says he to Brazier and myself x4. navy will cost money, but 
we must make up for the expense by conquering some of the 
W. India islands any one or two of which will bring us in wealth 
enough in a year or two to pay for a navy. He would not con- 
quer he says to admit them to equal rights with ourselves, but 

' June 22, 1807. 2 Abraham Nott (1767-1830), Yale College 1787, judge 1810-1830. 



006 AMERICAN HIST(3RICAL ASSOCIATION. 

to "make slaves" of them. Colonize and make tliem produc- 
tive of wealth, lie acknowled4i;es his opinions are directly 
opposed to what they once were, for he used to execrate Ham- 
ilton's politics and to start at the suggestion of any expensive 
measures: — Says he we have witnessed two glaring examples 
which make against our principles. Our principles tbat we 
have been contending for are Democracy or something as near 
to it as we can get. The first is that of the French people 
who by endeavoring to get a government of a popular kind 
have fallen into a cruel despotism. The next is that the 
majesty of our nation has been and may at any time be out- 
rageously insulted by any little d — d British frigate and yet 
we can't help it. * * * 

Thurs. Aug. 27th. Pleasant but warmer than of late. A 
military day and the town busy. A Company of Cavalry out 
and All the officers of the foot regiment. A good deal of 
drinking and some squabbling. 2 persons at Greens at Dinner 
were for hurling their chairs, knives &c at each other, but were 
prevented. The people about here seem very fond of being 
military characters, but still do not enter into the proper spirit 
of it. One man who has been Capt. of the troop and regularly 
resigned 2 or 3 years ago entered the same company again 
today as a private soldier. The Lt. Gov. of the State actually 
attended the meeting of the officers of the Eegt today as a 
Capt. I am told, and does in fact command a company of com- 
mon militia, in which there is not perliaps one man except 
officers ecpiipped and uniformed. * * * 

TImrs. Sept. 24th. Fine weather. Mr. Kennard tells me there 
are about 300 voters in the District (Richland) and among these 
he does not believe that there are 30 or at most 40 of them 
who are in tolerable circumstances (that is, with say, 100 
acres of land and one negro to work on it) but on the contrary 
are very poor and very ignorant, generally lazy and often 
drunken. * * * 

Frid. Oct. 2nd. Eath'er warm and foggy. Saw today a drove 
of 21 newly imported Africans pass by with 2 men who were on 
horse back. They were all dressed in red jackets and blue 
trowsers, and most of them walked Indian file. Poor fellows ! 
they gazed about on the houses and people as they passed 
through the street, and did not seem to be dissatisfied. They 
did not know, I suppose, wbat they were coming to. Saw 
today an account of Y. Coll. Commencement. It seems there 
were 60 Bachelors and 25 masters one D. D. and one L. L. D. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 907 

tSat. Oct. 3rd. Cloudy and pleasant. MaJ. Clifton had last 
week inserted in the papers a public notice Leaded with the 
words "Grand Parade"; ordering out his Battalion for military 
exercise : accordingly, 4 companies of infantry and one of artil- 
lery making about 160 or 70 men appeared before the State 
House at 10 o'clock. A number in every company were without 
guns, all were without bayonets and two-thirds with(mt car- 
touch boxes. One company at first appeared to have only 
one officer and he had neither gun, sword, epaulette, boots nor 
anything more than a common overseer not even a military 
coat nor so much as a stick in his hand: After a while a 
Capt. came and exercised them from a "Steubens exercise'' 
reading out the words with an affected drawling tone like 
an awkward schoolboy. However after the battalion was 
formed they appeared better than I expected and performed 
most of the evolutions, except marching, with tolerable pro- 
priety for this country. After a short intermission at noon, 
the Battalion was exercised an hour or so and then drawn 
up in a so]id column to hear a spirited and truly military 
harangue from Maj. Clifton on the subject of the call from the 
President for a quota of militia. He exhorted them to be bold 
in their country's cause, to disdain a draft, and voluntarily offer 
their services to government. His address was about 8 or 10 
minutes long: then giving them a minute or two to reflect on it, 
spread them out in a line and ordered the drums to beat along 
in front from one end of the Batt'n to the other. When every 
man, both officers and soldiers stept out 8 paces in front as a 
token of their offering (except 4 or 5 who as I afterwards heard 
were not enrolled members of the companies). The spectacle 
would have been truly pleasing if the men had all been equipt 
or even provided with guns only, but as many were not, it was 
so far too much of a burles(iue on the thing to be entirely pleas- 
ing. There was a good deal of joy expressed and a number of 
cheers given by all the Batt" and spectators. After dismission, 
a number of persons, not obliged to do duty came up to the offi- 
cers and offered their services also. Each of these was raised 
up on the shoulders of the crowd amid the huzzas of the mul- 
titude. — A good deal of noise lasted most of the night. * * * 
Tues. ISfov. 17th. Damp and rainy, cold and uncomfortable as 
yesterday. Four of us today sent in a written request to Judge 
Bay' to assign the law students a convenient seat in the Court 

' Elilm Hall Bay (1754-1838), a .judge from 1701 to 1838, and author of Bay's Koports. 



908 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

flail, wlilcli be did very readily and told tlie Sheriff to allow ns 
to occupy the corner near the Judge's seat and at the end of the 
Jury's. The Judge got provoked at the talking and moving 
about in Court this forenoon and ordered the Sh'ff' to take into 
custody whoever he should find talking. Eives went to the 
crowd near the door and brought up to the Judge a well dressed, 
civil man who had been talking lightly, and the Judge, after a 
severe reprimand ordered him to jail. At night application was 
made for his discharge but Bay would not grant it. I thought 
the whole looked like oppression and Mr. Scott said if a judge 
in Virginia should do so, he would be torn in pieces : — He saul 
if he should send him to prison he would not hesitate to kill 
him, and, as it is, would call him a rascal, if it should come 
his way. He thought it sufficient ground for an impeachment. 
We(hi. Nov. 18th. Cold, but clear and pleasant. This fore- 
noon the man imprisoned for talking was brought into court 
and the Judge after another short lecture and admonition told 
him he might be at liberty on paying the jailor his fees. 

JOURNAL NO. 5. S. CAR. COLLEGE. 

Stm. Nov. 22ncl. Fine day. Columbia now begins to assume a 
gay and lively appearance. Legislators, Lawyers and Judges 
begin to liock in, * * * 

Frid. Nov. 37th. * * * Attended court in the A. M. and 
heard E. Pearson^ examined for the bar. The Ex" did not 
last more than 5 or G minutes. The questions were few and of 
a general nature, though various and unconnected. Such as 
"What are the great divisions of Law? Ans. Rights of Per- 
sons and Rights of Things. What are the foundations of 
actions? Ans. Torts and contracts. Wl)at is the first step in 
an action? Ans. Writ. 2nd.? Dec". Suppose a special plea 
is put in byDef. what must the P'ff do? Ans. Reply to it. 
What does our Municipal law consist of? Ans. Writ, and 
unwritten. What is the Written? Acts of Assembly and 
Congress. * * « 

Frid. Dec. 4th. Very rainy and unpleasant. The legislature 
is at present very busy in the impeachment of a Col. Doyley 
of Charleston late Treasurer. The Senate forms the Court 
and sits with the chairs and tables turned round the contrary 
way from what is usual, and the members mostly wear hats. 
The four solicitors who are the Senate's advisers in matters of 

' Philip Edward Pearson, afterward State solicitor. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 909 

law sit in their black gowus at a semicircular table near the 
President. The Managers on the part of the House of li. and 
the counsel for the respondent also wear gowns. The Man- 
agers are Mess. Gist, Simmons, and Drayton. ^ The Counsel 
Mess. Nott (from Connecticut) and Maj. Ch. Goodwin (from 
England). Nott has been speaking today two hours or more, 
principally on the law points which are involved. He con- 
tends that an impeachment must be brought while the oflBcer 
is in power or not at all; and Col. D. has been out of office 
several years. He is accused of wasting or misapplying 10,000 
dollars of the public treasure. * * * 

3Ion. Dec. 7th. Commencement Day. — Weather delightful. 

The exercises of the day began between 11 and 115 o'clock. 
The pieces were few but tolerably good. There were 5 regular 
graduates besides 2 Bachelors from Yale C. and 1 master, from 
Eh. Island College. The music was instrumental and very 
good ; the performers being 4 or 5 of the best in the state. 
The degrees were conferred with considerable form. The 
President came down from the pulpit and addressed the 
Trustees briefly in Latin and introduced the candidates. Then 
took an arm-chair which stood a little forward on the stage 
and I took another Chair at his left-hand holding a handsome 
gilt duodecimo volume of French. They came on by 2 and 2. 
The Pres. addressed them in Latin sitting. Then presented 
the book; which they held while he said another sentence, and 
then returned to me. They being then Bachelors, the Presi- 
dent rose from his seat and acknowledged them as such, in 
Latin. Then they retired and 2 others came on. The Pres't 
then pronounced a degree conferred on one of the class who 
was absent, and on one Master — a Mr. King of Darlington. 
He then went back to the pulpit and pronounced the Honorary 
degree of L.L. D. conferred on J. Drayton, Esq. of Charleston 
and D. D. on the Rev. Messrs Furman and Percy of Charles- 
ton, Waddel of Vienna and Alexander of York.^ After this 
the graduates went out on the stage before the pulpit and the 

1 Keating L. Simons (1775-1819) and William Drayton (1770-1846), leaders of the Charles, 
ton bar. 

2 John Drayton (1766-1822) was governor of South Carolina, 1800-1802, 1808-1810, and 
author of a View of South Carolina and other books. Richard Furman (1755-1825) was 
for thirty-seven years minister of the First Baptist Church in Charleston. William 
Percy (1744-1819), an English clergyman of the Countess of Huntingdon's connexion, was 
assistant in St. Philip's and St. Michael's churches, Charleston, 180.'j-1810. Moses Wad- 
dell (1770-1840), a Presbyterian clergj-man, brother-in-law of Calhoun, was at this time 
head of a famous classical school at Williugton, near Vienna, S. C. Joseph Alexander 
(d. 1808) Princeton 1760, was a Presbyterian minister at Bullock's Creek, York County. 



910 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

Pres. made them a baudsome parting address of about 15 or 
20 miuutes. The Valedictory followed aud music closed the 
exercises. * * * 

Frid. Dec. 11th. Warm aud pleasant. Attended the debates 
of the legislature in the P. M. Mr, Speaker Alston made an 
elegant speech of about f hour in a Com. of the whole on the 
inequality of the representation. His speech was evidently a 
studied one, and in one or two places rather stiff, affected and 
unnatural. However, it was on the whole oue of the most 
elegant things I ever heard iu my life: the product of much 
reading and observation and exhibiting great fertility of 
imagination. * * * 

Man. Dee. 14th. * * * Then went to Mr. Chapman where 
I heard Governor Drayton play a few tunes admirably on the 
piano forte. Then went to the Kepresentatives Chamber where 
I heard the Eev. Mr. Weems a famous preacher, author, book- 
seller &c.^ preach an eloquent extempore sermon on Love to 
neighbors &c. He seemed to think love the sum and essence 
of Christianity, and this a phyvsical affection, attainable by all. 
It is said he always preaches in the same strain. 

Tues. Dec. 15th. Very warm. Was today introduced to Mr. 
Witherspoon, a pleasant mild-looking and polite member from 
Williamsburg — to Dr. Blythe of Georgetown and to Dr. Jamei- 
sou of Orangeburg. The Senate yesterday rejected unani- 
mously the Bill to vest the power of licenses &c. in the Trustees 
of Coll. also the Duelling Bill aud the Equity Bill. How much 
time is lost in laboring business iu one house for the other 
house to Mock up. The Bill respecting li(;enses easily passed 
the H. of R. and was thought absolutely necessary to prevent 
dissipation among the Collegians. But the Senate is much 
weaker iu talents and information than the House. 

Wedn. Dec. 16th. Very pure and pleasant air. — A. M. at- 
tended the impeachment of Col. Doyley. * * * 

Thurs. Dec. 17tJi. Fine weather. — This afternoon attended 
the impeachment. In the eve. attended the Senior Exhibition 
in the Chapel and after that went again to the State House 
and heard Mr. Drayton's closing argument on the part of the 
state againt Doyley. He is a young man of perhaps 27 a soft 
mild speaker; somewhat flowery and pretty luminous. About 
half past 10 the Yeas and Nays were taken and he was found 
gui'ty unanimously on the first Article and by more than two 



'The famous Masou L. AVeems, author of the "cherry-tree" life of vv'ashingtoii. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 911 

thirds of the Senators on the U\o others. The Senate then 
directed the Managers to inform their house of the result thus 
far; and deferred pronouncing sentence till the H. of IJ. should 
request it. * * * 

Frid. Dec. 18th. Fine weather. — At 12 oc. the Senate at the 
request of the H. of E. pronounced sentence on Col D'Oyley. 
The H. of E. came in and stood round. The Clerk of Senate 
called each member of Sen. by name, and then each rose and 
gave his opinion of the punishment that ought to be inflicted, 
most of them at the same time laying their hand on their 
breast. The majority were for having him disqualified to hold 
any office of honor, trust or i)roflt under the state for five years; 
which sentence was accordingly pronounced by Mr. Smith the 
President.^ * * * 

[During a college vacation the diarist made a short trip to Augusta, Ga.] 

Thnrs. Jan. 7th. [ISOS]. Some rain. Wet and cold uncom- 
fortable weather. Sat an hour or so in the Treasury Office 
with Mr. Haile. Mr. H. says the Treas'r is obliged to give 
bond for about 30,000 Dollars ; and yet there is often in the 
Treasy 40 or 50 and sometimes 60,000 Dollars. — He says the 
taxes from the Upiier Division do not bring in so much as this 
Treasury is called to i^ay out, by considerable and he is obliged 
to bring up money from the Charleston Treasury.'-* * * * 

Tiies. March 22nd. * * * At 4 o'clock rode out with 
Brother J. and returning we agreed to reckon up the number of 
dwelling houses in Columbia; — calling those dwelling houses 
which families reside in or designed for such use. So we rode 
through Eichardson and two or three other streets and counted 
them. The result was one hundred and twelve : viz on Eichard- 
son or the Main street 52. On the different streets east of Main 
street 46. On the streets west, or between the Main street and 
river 19. I suppose about live or six new ones are building 
which we did not count. * * * 

Mon. April 18th. Very clear and cold. Otherwise fine 
weather. Attended Court today. Judge Wilds ^ presided. 
He is quite young; I believe 32 or 3; but yet has a good deal 
of dignity and is notwithstand[iug] very conciliating. The 

1 William Smith. 

2 The State had two treasuries, one at Charlestou, one at Colniubia. In the year Octo- 
ber 1, 18()6-October 1, 1807, the low-country treasurer took in $441,725 and paid out $307,660, 
while the upper-country treasurer took in $60,533 and paid out $68,918. Koport in Acts 
of 1807. 

^Samuel Wilds (1775-1810), judge aiuco 1804. 



912 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

juries at this Court both grand and petit, were I think com- 
posed of more enlightened men than I have ever seen them 
before. The Foreman of the Grand Jury was John G. Guig- 
nard Esq. The Foreman of 1 pet. jury was Dau'l Faust Esq. 
Of the other Col. W. Hampton. I am told he said today it 
was the first time he ever served on a jury in his life. The 
lawyers who spoke today were Egan, Hooker, Stark and Clif- 
ton. Egau appeared better than ever to me. He is really a 
Ehetorician. He is figurative and he shews the Scholar. His 
delivery is easy and his words mellifluent. * * * 

NO. 9. JOUKNAL. S. C. COLLEGE. 

Sunday Nov. 13th. * * * F.Hells me thatMr.Cheves^ an 
eminent lawyer and legislator of Charleston (now about 30 
years old) was never blest with advantages of education and 
only went to a womans school a few months, until Avhen past 
20 he went to somebody a little while to assist him in learning 
Mathematics, but was a mere shop boy in his father's shop iu 
King street, but having got some taste for reading he resolved 
to study law, and set iu. Afterwards he learned other things 
and now can comment with i)ropriety upon many of the Clas- 
sics, understands Math, aud Kat. Phil, is an admirable logi- 
cian and excellent moralist. * * * 

[Being called to a tutorsliiiJ in Yale College, Mr. Hooker had resigned 
his position at Columbia. On November 23, 1808, he set out for New 
Haven.] 

Tiies. Nov. 29th. * * * About Cape Fear river I under- 
stand that people are mostly Presbyterians. On the creeks 
along this Side and towards Kaleigh, the Baptists are most 
numerous. About Ealeigh there are a good many Methodists. 
Most of the peoi)le on this road seem much to dislike the Em- 
bargo and say it is " ruination." They raise but little cotton. 
Those near the river make considerable tar and pitch, boards, 
staves and shingles to carry down. I saw about 40 barrels of 
tar lying on the bank of C. Fear river. They raise some 
tobacco also, but generally the land is quite too poor to enrich 
the people. Even on the rivers of these parts there are not 
such rich and extensive bottoms as on the S. Car. rivers.— 
After breakfast rode on (in the rain mostly) fifteen miles to 
Raleigh and stopped at Peter Casso's near the State House 

• J. M. Eelder of Orangeburg, a former fellow-student of tbe diarist. 
^Langdon Clicvcs (1776-1857), afterward eminent as a Congressmau aud as president of 
the Bank of tlie United States. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 913 

about three o'clock. Warmed, drank some Apple braudy aud im- 
mediately sat down to a various dinner but ate only Chicken pye, 
sweet potatoe pye and drank some excellent cyder. — Ealeigh 
looks very neat and pretty as you enter it from the South. 
Mostly on one wide street. Houses generally small, neat and 
white, though there are a number of little ordinary rough 
unpainted shoi)S and cabins. There may be fifty houses and 
stores. The State House is a very handsome building, far 
su])erior to that of the South State. It stands in the centre of 
the street in a large open Square of many acres with beau- 
tiful copses of j)ine and other trees which give the place 
a very rural, charming appearance. The edifice is of brick, 
painted and pencilled. 2 large stories high Square but par- 
allelogrammic : 9 windows in length and about 3 in breadth: 
a door and small piazza on each of the four Sides — the lower 
part open except the corners where are offices.^ The houses, 
as houses had adjourned, but each house was doing business 
in the Committee way. The Repr* were engaged in consid- 
ering petitions for divorces. I was astonished to see how 
lightly they regarded the subject. One was a j)etition for 
Divorce from the Man and Wife both. The argument for 
it was, that the leg. some years ago had allowed them to 
divide the i^roiierty and now their happiness would be pro- 
moted by dissolution of the contract. One member said the 
Man lived in habits of adultery and perhaps the woman too 
might follow wrong habits. Both could marry to suit their 
minds and it was better then to do away their offenses by 
divorcing and permitting them to marry. They did not seem to 
investigate subjects deeply nor enter into the spirit and true 
principles of the case. Recruiting advances tolerably here. 
About 30 have enlisted. Two or three papers are printed 
here. One (The Star) a literary pajier of some merit. In a 
piece on the lit. character of N. Car. four names are mentioned 
as models of American genius and talents viz: Rush, Dwite, 
Henry and another perhaps [Barlow] Washington.^ It was 
written by an observing foreigner. He says that the Pres. of 
the N. C. Univ. is a man of talents, but as little animation and 
energy as he ever witnessed. The Academies with few excep- 
tions have illiterate teachers and the reason is that here, as 

1 A picture of this State House may be seen in the American Historicsal Register for 
May, 1897, p. 183. 
^ The name of Barlow is erased iu the MS., and that of Washington written above. 

H. Doc. 353 58 



914 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

well as iu all the States, men engaged in the business of edu- 
cation are not liberally compensated. There is said to be a 
good Academy in this town. Some embroidery work of a 
pretty neat style over Oasso's fireplace denotes also that the 
education of young ladies is not neglected. * * * 

Wedn. Nov. 30th. * * * Soon after my arrival^ I sent 
my name to Mr. M. Dickinson^ the principal of the Academy, 
who graduated at Yale one year before me. Dickinson soon 
came, took tea with me at Hill's. Si)ent 2 or 3 hours pleasantly ; 
when we walked to his academy, a pleasant building on the 
hill about ^ m. from the Village of Louisburg. We Staid at 
his room about an hour, drank porter, read, talked and walked 
back to Hill's. L. is in a hilly part of the country has perhaps 
a dozen houses and 2 or 3 stores and mills on Tar river about 
as large as Farmington R. The shire town of Franklin Co. 
The County was named after Dr. F. and the village after 
Louis XVI at the time Dr. F. as our agent iu the revolution 
went to F. and obtained supplies from the French, The river 
was thought (and still is thought by Mr, Dickinson) capable of 
being rendered navigable up here for boats at the time the town 
was built. The ground being hilly and the current bold, it 
would suit well for manufactures, Xeuse Kiver which I crossed 
about 12 or lo miles back is a much larger stream. The Tar is 
navigable to Tarborough 50 m, below this. From 10 m, beyond 
Ealeigh and onward this way the soil is more stony, the roads 
less even and the land better, though the greatest part is still 
barren. Old worn-out fields in abundance present a dreary 
decaying aspect, Mr. D. has acquired a very decent li ttle estate 
since he first came here 4 years ago. He thinks himself worth 
between six and seven thousand dollars. The first year he had 
about seven hundred dollars — the next, the avails of his school 
1000 Dlls — the next they amounted to 1500 and the last year to 
1200, Besides this too he pays an Usher (Mayhew from Wms 
Col.) ■■' 300 Dlls. But he has improved opportunities to speculate 
by lending say COO Dlls cash to a young Sportsman and taking 
a Bond for 1000, Till lately he owned a house and farm of more 
than three hundred acres, six slaves, and a quantity of stock, 
as horses, sheep and cattle. Lately he sold his land for 4000 
Dlls which was one thousand more than it cost him. He now 
keeps a Gig, two horses and a servant or two and designs in 



'j\t Louisburg, 32 miles from Raleigh. 

'Matthew Dictinson, Tale College 1804, .lied 1809. 

3 Davis H. Mayhe\Y (1783-1822), Williams College 1805. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 915 

the sirring to visit Conu in this style. Dickiuson says literature 
js much respected iu these parts and literary men revereuced. 
The first year he came when he had no property and nothing 
to recommend him but his books and his education, he received 
ilattering- testimonies of respect and was treated with equal 
civility as at present. When in Ealeigh Gov. Turner ^ sent him 
a polite uote inviting him to dinner with the British Consul, 
the Judge of the Fed. C. and several characters of eminence 
to all of whom he was introduced and by all of whom treated 
with respect. He says men of information and liberality 
respect literary men from principle and the rest of the com- 
munity see in literary characters something so superior to 
themselves that they are imj)elled to homage. D. has had at 
times 90 students in his Academy. 20 or 30 or more as large 
and as old as himself. 20 once came at a time from the tlniv. 
of N. C. having conceived disgust at the Monitorial law, impos- 
ing an oath on all by turns to act the part of spies on each 
other's conduct. He has taught all branches taught in col- 
leges, except Conick Sec"^ As to the learned professions, 
here in the middle country Mr. D. speaks thus. That of The- 
ology is at low ebb, there being no i^reachers of education. 
He has never seen one Pres" clergyman in the state except 
Mr. Caldwell P. of N. C. Univ^.^ All are Baptists and Metho- 
dists and very unlearned and in low estimation in Socy 
although perhaps very good men. There are many professors 
of religion, though mostly in humble life. There are however 
some exceptions. Some rich and honorable Sincere Chris- 
tians, down below Louisburg. A wide field is open for the 
production of good by enlightened clergymen. In the law, 
there are some brilliant characters of education: Some good 
lawyers of superficial and limited educations, who appear 
very well but whose want of depth is discoverable to minute 
observers. Many mere pettifoggers who don't appear to any 
advantage. Many of the lawyers have been through a Latin 
course as they term it, i. e., as much latin as is read at Coll., 
have studied geography, Eng. G. Arithmetic and perhaps paid 
some attention to Ehetoric, and may be a little to Logic and 
then turned into the Law. In N. C. there are some very thor- 
ough bred and able phj^siciaus, especially in the Low country. 
But the greatest part are without good educations and many 



1 James Turner (1766-1824), governor of North Carolina 1802-1805, United States Sena- 
tor 1805-1816. 
■^Dr. Joseph Caldwell (1775-18;i5), Princeton 1791. 



916 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

are mere quacks. It is a couimou tiling after reading a little 
latin and a few other things to go to Phil, a winter or two 
and then enter the practice. The education of ladies is not 
neglected. Good academies for them are in Salem, Ealeigh, 
Warrenton and some other places. Mr, D. thinks the women 
have much quickness of apprehension and when refined by 
education as many of them in wealthy families, now a days are, 
they appear very advantageously. About Louisburg are 
many young ladies, who touch the lyre most charminfily. They 
understand music, x^aintiug and embroidery. Many young 
ladies from N. 0, are sent to IJetlilehem in Penn, and some to 
the Seaport towns. — I enquired of ]Mr. D. and Mr. Hill about 
the State of the LTnis^ersity. Mr. H. gave me this Statement. 
The Legislature in former times invested it with all the 
escheated property of the State. A small part of it only was 
appropriated T>y the Board of Trustees. A few years ago the 
Pres, the Professors and the Tutors were Federalists. The first 
graduates for 2 or 3 years (at the least the likeliest scholars of 
them) were likewise federalists. In a short course of time a 
number of these graduates obtained seats in the Legislature and 
discovered talents that the rude, illiterate mass of old mem- 
bers either envied or feared. Under the ostensible motive of 
discouraging Federalism in the College (but really as Mr, H. 
says for fear of losing their influence in the Leg'*") these old 
members carried a measure for taking away from the Univ. 
all the escheated proi^erty that had not yet been appropri- 
ated. For two or three years this was a subject of altercation 
in the Leg™ till finally about two or three years ago, the good 
sense of a part triumphed over the prejudices of the rest and 
got the law repealed which took away the property ; so that 
now it is the truth that the institution does possess it. — But 
the best property it has consists in donation of individuals. 
One citizen^ left by will 50,000 acres of good land in Tenes- 
see. This might be rented, but not sold till 3 or 4 years after 
his death, when the Trustees might, if they should see fit, sell 
one third. Afterwards another third and so on. Not being 
settled it brought nothing by rent: Soon it may be sold, or 
l^erhaps is, in part and will therefore be of great Service. At 
present the Coll. has a Pres. one Prof, one Tutor.'' Students 

' Gov. Benjamin Siuith (1750-1829), by gift in 1789, not by will; 20,000 acres, it is gener- 
ally said. 

••'Dr. Joseph Caklwell, Professor Andrew Rlica, Gavin Hogg. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 917 

about 40. It is patronized by tlie State. The Pres. lias other 
support thau the tuition money. * * * 

Thurs. Dec. 1st. * * * In this' county lives Mr. Macon ^ 
(pronounced here Meeken) a member of eong. and quite a 
favourite of this people. Also (in Warrenton Village) Senator 
Turner, formerly Gov. of IST. C, and Judge Hall of the Sup. 
Court and Judge Baker. It is a very respectable, well informed 
county and has produced a number of eminent characters. 
There is at W, and for a long time has been one of the most 
flourishing Academies in the State. Warrenton is 55 m. from 
Ealeigh, 25 from Louisburg and 85 from Petersburg (Vir.). 
The people in these parts trade almost entirely with Peters- 
burg; of course the Virginians have many debts here, i^ow 
sales by Ex" are suspended in V. the Virginians push for their 
debts here and very much worry the K. Carolinians, who want 
such a law here to protect them. Gov. Wms.^ thought it 
improper to call the Leg'" for that purpose last summer 
although petitioned to do it, by many. His refusal gave offence 
and a few days ago the Leg''' removed him and elected Judge 
Stone. A year ago they removed Gov. Alexander of Meclen- 
burg^ and put in .Wms. * * * 

3Ion. Dec. 5th. * * * R.5 appears beautifully as you ap- 
proach and view it from the Hills a mile distant. The Capitol 
towers preeminent and appears gigantic indeed among the 
other buildings. The side of the Hill from the river up to the 
top seems covered with clusters of buildings — Eemotefrora the 
centre on the right and left a mile or two and at still greater dis- 
tances handsome seats crown the top and sides of the mountain 
scattered here and there. Above you hear the roaring of the 
waters and see its white sheets here and there between the rocks 
and islands. Below a calmer scene invites you to look at the 
shipping which lies clustered in a bason or bend of the river. 
As you come up you i)ass through Manchester, a separate corpo- 
ration on this side the river. Then crossing the very long toll 
bridge at the foot of the fails you enter one of the most beau- 
tiful cities on the continent. R. as I viewed it a mile or two 
off appears more like some of the drafts of European cities, 
particularly those on the Banks of the Rhine than any I had 

' Warreu. 

2 Nathaniel Macon, Coajrressman, Speaker, Senator. 

3 Benjamin Williams (1754-1814), governor 1790-1802, 1807-1808. 

4 Dr. Nathaniel Alexander (1750-1808), governor 1805-1807. 

6 Kichmond, Va. 



918 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

ever seen. Walked up a very steep liill indeed and visited 
the Capitol soon after my arrival. The House of Delegates 
had just met, chosen Mr. Hugh Kelson of Albemarle^ their 
Speaker and were proceeding- to Business. It seemed the most 
dignified body I ever beheld. The room was spacious and 
very elegant. The members in elliptical seats and around the 
Speakers chair. All with very few exceptions were well dressed 
and easy and graceful in deportment. Many young, mostly 
middle-aged and few or none quite old. Many spoke shortly 
and with ease grace and composure on the returns of elections 
from Amherst Co. Adj'd about one. Visited the Fed. Court 
with Micah Goodwin of Columbia, S. C. whom Capt. Scott 
found for me in the Capitol. Judge Marshall Ch. J. of the 
U. S. a most venerable looking personage of about 50 presided. 
Heard Mr. Wickham (one of Burr's counsel) speak in rather 
a colloquial discussion with the Ch. J. Saw Mr. Wirt, the 
famous orator in Col. Burr's case, A most beautiful, fair, ele- 
gant man of apparently 32. He is the reputed illegitimate son 
of old Peter Cams of Georgia and '■'■ unquestionably the author of 
the letters called the British Spy^^ as people here think. Ed. 
Eandolph was here too — older than any, more plain in dress 
and somewhat venerable.^ Gen, Mason perhaps one of Wash- 
ington's Aids. Visited the Arsenal ; a stuj)endous work indeed ! 
Straight with the street in front and 2 stories high. A tower 
in the middle and at the ends. Circular in the rear. Saw 
some elegant Cannon and Bombs. Some of the Brass Cannon 
were French and German and Swiss 32 pounders, perhaps 10 
or 12 f. long and weighing it is said 10,000 lbs, requiring 10 lbs 
j)Owder. About 70 men only are now employed here. It is a 
state institution but far superior in extent and elegance to the 
U. S. Arsenal at Harper's Ferry. Thence visited the Peniten- 
tiary and was politely waited on around all its parts by Mr. 
Carter a very decent young gentleman emj)loyed there. The 
Criminals are 12G — of various trades es[)ecially iron and leather. 
The guards are A Corporal and privates at Dlls per month. 
The Building presents a straight front with a central tower 
and wings of a towering kind terminating behind in a Semi- 
circle, 3 stories high — The 2 lower ones workshops — the upper 
ones, places of confinement at night. — 6 or 8 often work and 



1 Hugh Nelson (1768-1836), member of Congress 1811-1823, minister to Spain 1823-1824. 

2 John Wickham, William Wirt, Peter Carnes of the Sonth Carolina and Georgia bar, 
Edmund Eandolph, formerly Secretary of State. 



DIAKY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 919 

sleep together without being fettered. They are not so rigor- 
ously restrained as at the Peny of Conn. Punishments are 
whipping or Solitary Confinement at the discretion of the 
Keeper. Visited the Canal and the beautiful bason that it 
terminates in, of 4 or five acres. — Here the Upper Country 
boats come and land their cargoes; there are no locks to let 
them down lower. Much coal is brought down from 12 or 14 
m. above. It is the only fuel used in the city. * * * 

Thiirs. Dec. Sth. * * * Saw here ^ Mr. Winston a young 
lawyer who resides at Hanover C. H., who had just come from 
Mount Vernon 9 m. distant, and told me it was only 2 or 3 m. 
out of the way in going- to Alexandria : — So I resolved to go 
i^ound that Avay and improve the only probable opportunity in 
my life to see the mansion where resided and the tomb where 
lies the Saviour of my country: — but not being acquainted and 
having no letters of introduction to Judge Washington ^ I 
hesitated. Mr. Winston said it was very usual, he believed, 
for strangers to visit the place although similarly situated; 
that Judge W. was very complaisant and glad to treat them 
civilly. About 3 m, from Colchester, which is a small mean 
village, I turned off to the right, passed Gardners Mill 3 
miles — Lewis' mill which belongs to the Vernon estate 1 m. 
and going on about 3 m. came in view of the Venerable Struc- 
ture where our hero lived, flourished and died. My emotions 
in approaching the spot were singular. Here thought I, the 
greatest man the world ever saw often rode out to view his 
fields, visit the neighboring country and enjoy the beauties of 
nature. About i mile from the mansion you enter a gate, pass 
through a pleasant grove of small, neat, well-trimmed oaks, 
follow the path in some parts straight in others winding among 
hills, at length ascend a tolerably steep hill and are present at 
the house. I told a servant to inform his master that a 
Stranger at the door wished to speak with him. Judge W. a 
slim, neat, sprightly man of about 40 came to the door. I told 
my name, object &c. and apologized for the intrusion. He, all 
politeness and civility, instantly made me easy on that score, 
begged to alight — asked me if I had dined — ordered a dinner — 
called for wine and shewed me every mark of attention. After 
sitting a few minutes and being introduced to two gentlemen 

' At Colchester, Va. 

^Bushrod Washiugton (1762-1829), associate justice of the Supremo Court of the United 
states 1798-1829. 



920 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

wlio were playing backgammou by tlie fire, I requested to visit 
the domains. The Judge directed me to the gardens and the 
German gardener accompanied me through the 2 gardens to 
the Green Eoom &c., and to various places. Among others 
to the Vault where the general lies and to the new Vault 
where it is designed to have his corpse deposited. After look- 
ing round about J hour I came to the "long and lofty portico 
where oft the hero walked in all his glory" and with a tele- 
scope had a fine view of the Majestic Potomak — fort War- 
burton — the shipping &c. &c. When Judge Washington 
requested me to step in and take dinner. I did so and soon 
after mounted my horse and rode to Alexandria (10 m. from 
Colchester on the stage road and 19 this way) though very 
politely invited several times to tarry all night. In short 
Judge W. behaved very prettily and very genteelly. Easy 
and graceful in demeanor, not affected, but takes pleasure in 
pleasing others and making them happy. The Judge begged 
me to "make his best respects to Dr. Dwiglit" — said he knew 
him well and had a high regard for him. He has heard of me, 
it seems, — for when I mentioned to him that I had a brother 
in S. Carolina he asked me if my brother was not in the Col- 
lege at Columbia. * * * 

Frid. Dec. !)th. * * * Crossed the creek which divides 
G. T.^ from Washington and rode to Mr. O'Neal's boarding 
house where I took lodgings for a few days. About 11 o'c 
after changing my clothes I walked Ih mile to the Capitol and 
with Mr. O'Neal entered the gallery of the Representatives 
Hall a most Superb room in the left wing of the Capitol, 
where a debate was proceeding on the Subject of empowering 
the Pres. to arm and equip 12 new revenue cutters. Mr. 
Blackley ^ was speaking at some length — pretty sensible, plain 
speaker, though from Some defect in voice or fault in the 
Structure of the room I could not hear him distinctly. Mr. 
Sloan ,^ a very droll looking old man of quakerish principles, 
dress and manners spoke a few words. He far exceeded my 
expectations, — loud, clear voice — language tolerably correct 
but very plain, — pronunciation rather vulgar, though not 
worse than many men's — pretty- good common sense. The first 
resolution of a set of resolutions relative to our foreign rela- 
tions next came on viz, that the U. S. cant consistently sub- 

> Georgetown. 

^ William Blackledge of North Carolina. 

2 James Sloan of New Jersey. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER, 921 

mit to the late edicts of G. B. — In this discussion tbe merits and 
demerits of the Embargo were introduced. Mr. B. R. Williams ^ 
of S. C. made a long haraugue of 2 hours upon it — justifying 
the imposition and continuance of the Ems". He recurred 
much to his notes, — hesitated some — drank water frequently. 
Began some sonorous and musical sentences which did not 
close equally well. Began some so loug as to lose the connec- 
tion of words and make bad grammar, — but nevertheless had 
a pretty eloquent speech and highly figurative language — 
expressed very fair, liberal, national and harmonious senti- 
ments — expressed himself in many instances in very strong, 
em]3hatic language, and was by many j^eople much compli- 
mented and much admired. I think though, he was hardly 
logical enough and rather too ungrammatical and incorrect to 
pass for a complete scholar. For "effect an insurance" he 
said "infect an insurance" — and committed a few other errors. 
The Rev. Mr, Culpepper'^ of N. C. spoke ^ hour, plain man — 
but tolerably sensible — very far from ornamental language and 
frequently incorrect in grammar and pronunciation — Mr. Key ^ 
(of Mar.) spoke 2 or 3 min. rather by way of reply— a very 
sweet, mellifluous speaker. He showed the scholar and the 
graceful orator. Mr. Newton of Vir.* spoke tolerably well 
today, though very briefly. The House adj"^ about 3. At 4 
o'c we dined at O'Neals and rose about sunset. Several South- 
ern members of wealth board here and yet are very temperate 
drinking no wine and very little or no spirits and sitting at 
table only about an hour. The dinner was a good one but not 
splendid. — Ham, Turkey, Chicken, roast beef, chicken pye, 
pudding, crackers and apples. Gen. Sumter, Gov. Milledge 
and Gen. Trigg of the Senate;'"'— Col. L. J. Alston, Mr. (Gen.) 
Blount (and his lady) of the House of B,.^' — Mons. Chevalier a 
Fr. Gent, of Virg. and 2 lads are the boarders. No liquor is 
l^rovided but each one who wants applies to the landlord and 
it is procured for him. Each boarder has a separate room fur- 
nished and a bell to call a servant when wanted; one can call 
for a cold cut of victuals any time of day if wanted. After 
dinner walked about 2 m. to the Rom. Catholic Coll. in George 



' Annals of Congress, 1808-1809, pp. 788-806, report David R. Williams's speech. 
2 John Culpepper. 
^Philii) Barton Key. 
■> Thomas Newton, jr. 

5 Thomas Sumter of South Carolina, John Milledge of Georgia. Abram Trigg 
ber of Congress, not Senator, from Virginia. 
^Lemuel J. Alston of South Carolina, Thomas Blount of North Carolina. 



922 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

Town. There are 2 edifices — one is 3 stories high very long 
and spacious, with a chapel and about 3 or 4 School liooms 
on the lower floor. On the 2nd floor an exhibition room in the 
middle and school rooms at each end. On the 3d floor is the 
Dormitory in the middle and rooms for the masters at each 
end. In the garrett is more room for a Dormitory if ever 
wanted. Mr. Boling one of the Prof "^ a single man of about 
26 or 30 took me into the dififerent apartments and gave me 
considerable information about the Seminary. There is a Presi- 
dent, who superintends the whole but does nothing in teach- 
ing. 4 Professors 1 of Poetry and Syntax, 1 of Grammar, who 
also teaches the Mathematics — 1 of Endiments and 1 of Ele- 
ments. None are admitted younger than 8 nor older than 14. 
They remain till they have finished the course and often longer. 
Several of the students are over 20 and 22 who have been here 
ever since they were 14. The class of Elements consists of those 
boys who first begin the Latin tongue. The class of Endiments 
read authors of some repute and have their character explained, 
and they learn to imitate their style.— They also learn Geogra- 
phy. The next pursues the Mathematics and learns more of the 
nature and true princij)les of grammar. The fourth becomes 
Ehetoricians. There is a Prof of Divinity whose business it 
is, as far as I learned, to instruct in Divinity those older and 
more advanced students who wish to acquire Theological knowl- 
edge. They rise at G in the winter and while washing «S:;c 
something is read from the " Spiritual Book." Then they are 
required to attend in the chapel where, all kneeling, prayers 
are said. At ^ past 8 in the evening they attend evening 
service and at ^ past 8 all are required to retire to bed. — Tliey 
all sleep in one room. The beds are all single, cot bedsteads 
the clothes all alike and like tlie curtains. There is a large 
frame like a single bed, divided into thirty snug apartments 
which are little alcoves with a curtain drawn before them. 
There are about 40 students — mostly professors of the Catholic 
religion. These are the proper Sons and favorites of the Col- 
lege, and are called Pensioners not because they are supported 
by the institution, for they are not; — they pay their own ex- 
penses. Protestant boys are admitted and a few of the present 
students are Protestants, but they do not sleep and eat with 
the Pensioners, but board out in town and are not intimately 
connected with the College. The Students all study in a room 
together under the constant inspection of a Professor. Mr. 



DIAEY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 923 

B. took me to the room. — We stood at the door and all rose as 
we viewed them by caiullelight. They always have au officer 
with them at recreation likewise. None are allowed even to 
walk out into tfown or any where else to trade or for any pur- 
pose without permission from the Principal, and if the Scholar 
is a young one he chooses some older, grave and experienced 
scholar for his companion and attendant, who goes with them 
to the shops and other places, as his guardian. The masters 
watch very vigilantly over the manners and morals of the 
youth ; who rarely wish to act viciously, they being habituated 
to virtuous ways and influenced by the religious i^rinciples 
they profess. On Sunday they are required to attend service 
at the Church near by. They have one exhibition yearlj'^, in 
August, which excites to much competition. The Coll. confers 
no degrees — Mr. B. did not seem to have accurate notions on 
the subject. The Seminary was founded on individuals' dona- 
tions by a number of gentlemen associated for the purpose. — 
The Leg. have shov\^n a willingness to patronize it on certain 
conditions relative to the unlimited admission of all Protes- 
tants, but the founders and friends thought it better to be inde- 
pendent and pursue their own way. The other building is 2 
St. high square and appropriated to the instructors. It is com- 
mon for a man on entering his sou to signify to the President 
the sphere of life which he desires to move in, and then his 
course of education though not materially altered, has a turn 
given to it adapted to that sphere. The Pres. a worthy old 
man much beloved and respected yesterday died and is tomor- 
row to be buried. — Returned to my lodgings about 7 and went 
to bed. Expences today were Bill at the Ind. Queen, Alexa. 
for Horse at 3 qts grain &c. Lodg. and sling. 92 — Martingale 
with steel hooks and buckles 1.50 — Cake and gin .08 — Hostler 
for cleaning bridle .08 — Ferry at G. T. .12. Bounce and cake 
.09. = 2.80. 

Sat. Dec. 10th. Weather a little warmer. Some rain in the 
Morn. Rose early and walked to G, T. market with Mr. O'Neal. 
Breakfasted on coflee, warm bucVwheat cakes, chicken corn- 
cakes toast, broiled fresh jiork &c. After breakfast set out for 
the Capitol with Mr. Chevalier and arrived before the H. of R. 
formed. About the time of proceeding to business, viz : eleven, 
Gen. Varnum the Speaker ^ rapped on the table and Mr. Brown 
a Baptist Clerg'^ the Chaplain of the House went into the 

' Josepli B. Varnum of Massachusetts. 



924 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

Clerk's place fronting the Speaker's chair and addressed the 
throne of grace in a modesty appropriate, republican prayer of 
about 8 or 10 minutes, about half the members being in and 
observing great decorum and apparent seriousness, A few 
minutes after the Speaker took the chair of his own accord 
and looking round to see if a (piorum were present, requested 
members to take their seats. No roll was called. The CI. read 
over yesterday's proceedings and then the various business of 
the day was entered on; such as hearing reports of commit- 
tees and presenting petitions — till at length the unfinished 
business of yesterday was introduced viz the resolution about 
Submission to the edicts of G. B. Mr. Cook of Mass.^ a Rep. 
who voted for the embargo made a long, dry uninteresting- 
speech of more than an hour; proposing some substitute for 
the embargo — A very handsome — neat, well dressed man, but 
not a fluent speaker — tolerably good sense but no imagery. 
Nothing to embellish his Style and frequently ungrammatical. 
Mr. Jno. Randolph^ made a few desultory remarks prefacing a 
motion of adjournment. I hardly ever in my life felt so inter- 
ested in the speech of another, especially a speech of merely 
an accidental, careless nature. A x)erson rose, — to appear- 
ances a boy of about 15 or 16 — resembling in countenance 
young Martin of the S. C. College. A voice quite Shrill but 
very boyish and a look quite efleminate. I supposed it some 
newly elected and very young member who was not about to 
do much but observed that he rose and spoke with perfect 
composure and confidence. His figure and his voice much 
resembled those of my classmate Elliot. I asked who it was 
and was told J. Randolph. I was struck with astonishment. 
In one point of view I saw a tall slim boy who had all the time 
been sitting in a remote part of the house with his shoulders 
shrugged up and his light drab surtout closely buttoned uj) to 
his chin, a large i)air of gloves or mittens on his hands, and 
his slim legs with white top boots thrown impolitely over the 
top of the next row of seats, as though he was a mere silent, 
indifierent spectator, or else perhaps too bashful to come for- 
ward in sight and take an active jiart. He got up and said he 
was fairly tired down with that discussion which had been so 
long protracted from day to day. Boldly and pointedly 
accused the Speaker of wandering from the subject, said the 
greatest part of the arguments had nothing to do with the sub- 



' Orchard Cook. '^ Johu Kandolph of Eoanoke. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 925 

ject, that the question of the merits of the Yazoo claim might 
with just as much propriety have been discussed as the merits 
of the Embargo, aud as he did not wish the q. now taken be- 
cause he knew of some members out of their seats who desired 
not to liave it appear they were absent at the time, he would, 
though not in the habit of making that motion, now move for 
adjt. — In auother point of view I saw a great Orator, States- 
man, Scholar and man of geuius, the first man in a great assembly 
of the Eepresentatives of a great and free people — whose Sway 
has been extensive and whose influence is still considerable; 
whose fame is spread far and wide and sounded even beyond the 
Atlantic. These two impressions though apparently inconsist- 
ent, were made from the sight of the same man. His vote how- 
ever was negatived by a small maj>' — Mr. Jackson ^ a republican 
merchant from E. Island read a speech of about f hour setting 
forth the suflerings of the Eastern people and proposing to let 
the merchants arm vessels, and take off the Embargo. It was 
tolerably written for a mercantile character though it had a 
number of herebys, thereofs whereofs &c. and was read in a 
very clerical, draAvling, monotonous tone, — cleared and all 
such words he would pronounce with the ''ed" brought out 
full. The word "'i^" he would emphasize often at the end of sen- 
tences. In short he appeared like a very good respectable 
sensible man but not used to i)ublic life and habits of speak- 
ing. Age about 45 or 50, plain dark dress and good manners, 
modesty characterized him. Mr. Mumford'^ of the city of 
N. Y. replied to the remarks of an impudent young member 
from Vir, who had said the other day that the powdered 
headed gentry of the cities of the north might turn manufac- 
turers and come round and take off the cotton of the South. 
Or even let them go to the plough — it would be no disgrace to 
them — they can be as respectable in that way as they can in 
commercial life." Mr. M. seemed hurt at the observation of 
Gholson and thought him lacking in a spirit of liberality, har- 
mony and conciliation. Mr. Livermore of Mass. or N. H.^ rose 
to Si^eak but a mot. for adjt was carried. Mr. Pitkin of Farm- 
ington'* came into the gallery to see me, invited me to his 
lodgings at Mr. Frost's and also proposed to introduce me to 
the President on Monday. Mr, Taylor^ of Columbia also came 

1 Richard Jackson. 

2Gurdon S. Mumford. 

^Edward St. Loe Livermore of Massachusetts. 

■» Timothy Pitliiii, jr. 

* Johu Taylor. 



926 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

up, chatted awhile and invited me to his mess at Mrs. Hamil- 
ton's to see Mrs Taylor and Miss Goodwin. The House adjd 
at 3. — Walked home with Mr. O'Neal and at 4 sat down to 
dine in a goose, duck, cliicken pye. Boiled cornd beef, Eoast 
fresh beef, hominy made of dry corn and beans boiled whole, 
sweet and Irish potatoes, custards, roast apples, crackers and 
butter with cheese preserves and cyder. Rose from table after 
sunset. Gen. Sumter is a still man at table^of genteel mil- 
itary manners, making now and then a very sensible remark. 
Gov. Milledge is more plain in dress and rude in manners. If 
a poor man and low station he might be thought ill mannerly. 
He took a piece of bread in his fingers, sopi)ed in the gravy of 
the Eoast Beef and ate it all at one mouthful though large 
enough for three. Afterwards there being a pretty large 
piece of quince on the plate of preserves and some sauce, he 
hauled the saucer near, took the quince in his thumb and 
liuger and gormandized the whole at a bite. Gen. Trigg is 
more foppish in dress than any of them, powdered hair and 
silk stockings (or resembling them) — He talks some but less 
than Milledge, and not in so earnest, forward, dictatorial man- 
ner. Gen. Blount (pronounced Blunt) is a younger man — per- 
haps 35 or 40 — pretty sensible and perspicuous and appropri- 
ate language — reads with much propriety, but is probably a 
violent partisan and strong in his prejudices. Ool. Alston is 
full of polite airs and polite talk; — not a great man, but a 
pretty man. I once saw him in S. C. but did not now recog- 
nize him till I heard his name and he seems not to recollect 
me. Blount eulogized D. R. Williams speech and thought it 
transcendantly elegant. I was disposed to pay some respect 
to his judgment till being asked how Key spoke he said rather 
dull — for K in my estimation is the most musical, interesting, 
elegant Speaker that has risen, but Blount was led away 
by too much regard for the causes they severally espoused, 
and overlooked their eloquence abstractedly considered — 
Mr. Blount Avas in Cong, in Adams time when the direct tax 
was laid and said he voted for it expressly for the purpose 
of effecting a change of administration, knowing that the 
odium of the people could be awakened in no better way than 
by touching their interest. Mr. Milledge avowed the Same 
motive for his vote in that occasion saying that he knew it 
would lead the people to look into the causes of the measures 
and then they would perceive them built on false principles 
and having a wrong tendency. Gen. Trigg declared oft" and 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 927 

said lie uniformly perseveringly voted against the direct tax 
and other odious measures because he thought them wrong. 
At 6 p. m. attended the Bap. Ch. with Mr. O'Keal and Mr. 
Scott (a religious young man of literature who is writing 
something on the Types) and heard a very handsome discourse 
delivered by Mr. Graham a young Bap. Clergyman lately 
arrived from Scotland. — A considerable audience. Many per- 
sons of both sexes and of very decent dress and demeanor 
seemed very devout. Singing rather boisterous and not well 
regulated, lleturned and took supper with Mr. O'Neal and 
his family. An old lady or two his relations from N. Jersey 
were here and one of them seemingly a Methodist attacked 
O'aSTeal on his falling off — for Mr. O'N. was once an earnest 
apparently sincere professor of religion and still regards it, 
but does not, I suppose think himself religious and has con- 
tracted some singular notions about the Scriptures and Chris- 
tianity. He approves the IsTew Test't but disbelieves many 
facts stated in the old. Mr. O'N. Says there are as many as 15 
churches within 4 or 5 miles of here. Mr. O'N. tells me he 
spent 3 m. in N. J. last summer to defeat Sloan's reelection 
and succeeded, as also another member's; because they were 
active in attempting to remove the seat of Gov. to Phil. — He 
says he used to be the most "i)opulous" man in that county 
and had Still many connexions, much ac(iuaiutance and con- 
siderable influence. 

Sun. Dec. 11th * * * After service Mr. P. took me into 
various imrts of the Capitol and explained them. He says 
the wing which is devoted to the H. of K. cost upwards of 
300,000 Dlls. and that it is said by persons who have an oppor- 
tunity to know, that there is not in Europe a room equally 
superb with the Eepresentatives Chamber. It is elliptical — 
Surrounded with 22 or 24 Corinthian Columns — Shaded on all 
sides with red flannel curtains. The light comes in at top 
through the Sky lights, the glass of which is an inch thick 
and cost several (perhaps 10) dollars a pane. The Speakers 
Chair is very suj)erb and surrounded with the richest scarlet 
and green velvets and gold fringe. It resembles more the 
trappings of royalty than the seat of republicanism. The 
windows have all rich scarlet curtains of velvet with yellow 
gold fringe and gilt frames. Eich carpets of a Turkey kind 
cover the floors. The seats are all stuffed and adapted to ease, 
the tables for the members are elegant cabinet work. * * * 



928 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

Mon. Dec. 12th, Weather quite mild and pleasant. After 
breakfast walked to Mr. Pitkin's lodgings at Frost's. Went 
with him to the Capitol where he introduced me to Mr. Daven- 
port of Conn, and Mr. Holmes of Vir.' Chairman of the Com. 
of Claims. Visited the Library, large and Avell composed — 
perhaps 2000 volumes. Attended the Senate. Mr. Clinton,^ 
their President has a most grave, dignified and venerable 
appearance. The Senate Eoom is smaller and much less 
superb than the Eepresentatives. Gen. Smith of Baltimore 
spoke in a masterly, strong, forcible and x^erspicuous manner 
on post roads. Mr. Giles said a few words. Strength and 
perspicuity without much gracefulness, Mr. Pickering, a grave 
old man spoke briefly in proposing an amendment. Thence 
went round towards the Hall of the H. of E. and the doors 
being closed I stood out eating fruit near the Capitol among 
the people, when who should accost me but my old worthy 
friend and classmate Elihu Spencer, who told me he had lived 
in Mr. Gallatin's family 10 or 12 weeks. We walked to the 
Navy Yard saw the Xaval Monument to the memory of the 
Heroes of Tripoli. Saw multitudes of Ball, Bombshells and 
Cannon, Ships, Stores, rigging &c. Eeturned and heard Mr. 
Gardenier ' speak on the comparative merits of the past and 
present administration, with reference to the Embargo. He 
speaks very slowly but very correctly and has many nice and 
beautiful touches of painting in his oratory. He spoke very 
candidly, deliberately and interestingly. Dined on Goose, 
Fowl, Ham, Sausages and eggs &c. &c. Eode to George T. 
at Sunset. Eeturned Soon and spent the evening at my room 
with Mr. Spencer where we drank gin, ate apples and chatted 
most pleasantly until 9. At breakfast this morn the conver- 
sation happened to turn upon the employment of chaplains in 
('ong. Gen. Sumter and Gov. Milledge thought they had no 
business there. Gen. Blount and Gen. Trigg, thought it proper. 
Milledge said, in Monarchies such things were proper and con- 
sistent, but as we have determined that we have no church- 
no national religion, we ought not to have this semblance of 
it. Gen. Trigg said that true it is, we have no national church 
yet we have not discarded a God; — it is proper we have our 

1 John Davenport, jr. ; David Holmes. 

2 George Clinton, Vice-Presiilent. The Senators whose names follow are Samuel Smith' 
William B. Giles of Virginia, Timothy Pickering of jrassacbnsetts. 

^Barent Gardenier, member of Congress from New York. 



DIARY OF EDWARD HOOKER. 929 

minds directed to him, and therefore public prayers by a cler- 
gyman is proper. Gen. S. asked if we could not direct our 
minds to God ourselves without the aid of a preacher. Pray- 
ers are no doubt proper in certain places — but in a political 
body they are quite out of place. Gen. T. said we should not 
many of us, for a week together think of God without the aid 
of a clergyman. Gen. Blount insisted on its hapi)y influence 
and tendency and quoted one of the letters of Miranda's expe- 
dition to show the effect which public devotion had on even 
rough seamen when ordered by Capt. Lewis and how much 
they lost confidence in Miranda, because he did not attend the 
prayers.^ Milledge said that was all owing to a principle of 
fear. 

Tues. Dec. 13th. Cold, windy morn. — Wrote a letter to Mr. 
Chapman. — Breakfasted at the usual hour viz about 9 or i 
past and then walked to Mr. Smith's office - to turn the course 
of my papers to New Haven. Paid 3 Dolls in advance from 
Nov. 1, 1808 to Nov. 1, 1809. Smith is a sleek, nice little man 
of about 10, Somewhat bald. Windy weather, a little east 
of North. — About 12 o'c Mounted my horse and started. 
Called at Mr. Gallatin's about ^ hour to see Mr. Spencer. 
Drank some excellent Liqueur (a kind of cordial made in Phil- 
adelphia) saw Mr. G's likeness, chatted a while and rode on. 



'See James Biggs's Hiatory of Don Francisco tie Miranda's Expedition, Letter xiii, 
pp. 95, 96. 
* Samuel H. Smith, editor of the National Intelligencer. 

H. Doc. 353 59 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 



■ 



014 418 417 8, 



